The second ODI of the three-match series between India and New Zealand at Auckland didn’t turn out to be a happy outing for the visitors as they not only lost the match but bottled the series as well.
New Zealand registered a clinical 22-run victory riding on the fifties from Ross Taylor, and Martin Guptill, and a fine all-round performance from debutant Kyle Jamieson who was adjudged the Man-of-the-match as well. However, it was Ravindra Jadeja, along with Navdeep Saini, who ensured that New Zealand was not going to get the win easily.
India looked down and out of the contest when they were reduced to 153 for 7 with more than 18 overs remaining. But Jadeja and Saini put on an 86-run stand to keep India in the hunt. Even though they could not take India over the line, the fightback was worth praising.
Jadeja also brought up his 12th ODI fifty during this lower-order fightback and in the process, surpassed former India skippers Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Kapil Dev for most fifties scored at number seven in ODIs for India.
This was Jadeja’s seventh fifty at this position. Dhoni and Kapil Dev were the joint holders of the record previously with six fifties each to their names.
Overall, Jadeja is now at the fourth position for this record. Only Elton Chigumbura (12), Abdul Razzaq (9), Chris Harris (9), Mahmudullah (8) and Shahid Afridi (8) have scored more ODI fifties at number seven than any other batsman