TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2019 16 India clinch NZ series King Kohli bids farewell to New Zealand as India take unassailable lead in ODI series twins Kuldeep Yadav and Yuz- India took an vendra Chahal took the bulk • of the wickets in the first two unassailable 3-0 lead in matches. the five-match series Ish Sodhi proved expensive with two games to spare but Mitchell Santner was tight and finished with one for 45 af- New Zealand opted ter he cleverly deceived Sharma • in the air and the India opener to bat but were bowled was stumped. out for 243 in 49 overs. Kohli, who averages a centu- Shami led India’s ry every 5.6 innings, was due a bowling with 3/41 big knock in New Zealand after posting 45 and 43 earlier in the series, but his attempt to drive AFP | Wellington Boult to the cover boundary was well caught by a leaping Henry irat Kohli bowed out of Nicholls. the New Zealand tour Boult proved the most eco - Vwith India in an unbeat- nomical of the New Zealand able position after a dominant bowlers with two for 40. seven-wicket win in the third Mohammed Shami had earlier one-day international in Mount taken three for 41 while Bhuvne- Maunganui yesterday. shwar Kumar, Hardik Pandya It put India 3-0 up and world and Yuzvendra Chahal took two player of the year Kohli said with wickets apiece as India shared the series wrapped up early it around the bowling honours in was time for him to step aside for the New Zealand innings. the remaining two matches and the following Twenty20 series. New Zealand “I couldn’t have asked for a M. Guptill c Karthik b Kumar 13 better performance after the C. Munro c Sharma b Shami 7 first two clinical performances K. Williamson c Pandya b Chahal 28 and just the relentlessness of R. Taylor c Karthik b Shami 93 the side is something that re - India’s Virat Kohli bats during the third one-day international cricket match between New Zealand and India T. Latham c Rayudu b Chahal 51 ally pleases me,” he said after H. Nicholls c Karthik b Pandya 6 India easily chased down New reckoned with in the World Cup He has not bowled since on “They are teaching us a lesson Ross Taylor (93) and Tom M. Santner c Karthik b Pandya 3 Zealand’s 243 with seven overs later this year. tour as India’s recognised bowl- and we’re required to rise to the Latham (51) gave the innings D. Bracewell run out (Kohli) 15 to spare. Sharma top-scored with 62 ers proved too much for Austral- challenge,” New Zealand captain credibility but proved no chal- I. Sodhi c Kohli b Shami 12 “I haven’t had a break for a while Ambati Rayudu was un- ia and New Zealand. Kane Williamson said. lenge for the visitors. T. Boult c Shami b Kumar 2 long time. It’s been a very hectic beaten on 40 and Dinesh Karthik “The quality they brought Sharma’s first wicket partner- L. Ferguson not out 2 Australian tour and now I go on on 38. with the ball, in particular their ship of 39 ended when Shikhar Extras: (lb 4, wd 7) 11 a break very happy, 3-0 up, seal- consistency in what they’ve tried Dhawan edged Trent Boult to Total: (all out; 49 overs) 243 ing the series and I can relax and ‘Teaching us a lesson’ to do, they haven’t given you the lone slip Taylor to be gone enjoy my break.” While Rayudu was steering much and they’ve forced some for 28. India Kohli’s 60 off 74 deliveries and India home, the International th mistakes.” Kohli then joined Sharma R. Sharma std Latham b Santner 62 a 113-run partnership with Rohit Cricket Council announced he New Zealand, batting first, and the pair swatted the attack S. Dhawan c Taylor b Boult 28 Sharma formed the backbone of had been suspended from inter- 49 posted their highest score and around the ground in their cen- V. Kohli c Nicholls b Boult 60 ODI fifty was scored by India’s run chase. national bowling. Virat Kohli off 59 balls longest innings in the three tury stand for the second wicket. A. Rayudu not out 40 It gave the tourists back-to- The part-time spinner was cit- matches so far but they still New Zealand, taking a D. Karthik not out 38 back series wins against Aus- ed for a suspect action after the fell short of 50 overs, their last leaf from the India playbook, Extras: (b 1, wd 16) 17 tralia and New Zealand and en- first ODI against Australia two wicket falling with six balls re- brought two spinners into the Total: (for 3 wickets; 43 overs) 245 sured they will be a force to be weeks ago. maining. match after the tourists’ spin Nadal takes positives out of Open thrashing ‘Super difficult’ for AFP | Melbourne Neymar to be fit to face he lost to South African Kevin afael Nadal said he took a lot Anderson, and withdraw from Man Utd, says PSG coach Rof positives out of the Aus- the warm-up Brisbane Inter- tralian Open on his return from national. AFP | Paris des Princes. injury, despite being thrashed “The only thing probably Tuchel’s admission came in the final Sunday by Novak that I need is time and aris Saint-Germain coach after newspaper Le Parisien Djokovic. more matches,” he PThomas Tuchel has admit- claimed on Sunday evening The Spanish second seed had said of getting to a ted Neymar is unlikely to be fit that Neymar had suffered “a played an outstanding level of sufficient level to in time for the first leg of their hairline fracture of the fifth tennis at the tournament with- challenge Djokovic Champions League last-16 tie metatarsal”, exactly where the out dropping a set until he met at his imperious against Manchester Unit- Brazilian underwent an oper- his arch-rival on Rod Laver Are- best. ed next month. ation on a fracture in March na. “I need work, “It’s going to be su- last year. And he had no answer to the and I need more per difficult”, Tuchel Neymar missed the last world number one’s booming weeks like this told Canal+ when three months of last season as groundstrokes and precision one. That’s really asked if Neymar a result, including the second serve to limp out of Melbourne Spain’s Rafael Nadal celebrates with his trophy during the presentation the only thing that would return leg of PSG’s Champions League Park 6-3, 6-2, 6-3. ceremony after his defeat against Serbia’s Novak Djokovic I hope -- to have from a metatar- last-16 defeat against Real Ma- Nadal said he still wasn’t at the chance to keep sal injury in time drid. He only returned just in his best after his injury-plagued he was content with being able there’s a good energy and good practising well and for the game at time for the World Cup. 2018. to reach the final given the inju- inspiration for what is coming.” to have the chance Old Trafford on “I can’t confirm a new di- “Was unbelievable the way ry problems that prevented him Nadal had not played a main to keep playing and February 12. agnosis. I think the club has that he played, no doubt about playing any matches after the US tour event since a knee problem stay healthy. “It is still too said everything about this that. But at the same time it is Open until he got to Melbourne. forced him to retire during his “I need matches, but early to talk injury for the moment and true that probably physically I “I have been going through US Open semi-final against Juan I can’t go crazy to play about a return now we need to wait,” Tuchel was not able (to compete at that tough moments in the last year. Martin del Potro in September. matches,” he added. date because added. level),” said Nadal. (I have played) only nine events “I have my age. I have we need to wait PSG have only said that Ney- “Five months without com- and since the US Open I was not ‘I need matches’ my calendar. I have my and see how mar had suffered “a painful peting, having that big challenge able to play until the first round The 32-year-old had surgery priorities. My priority Neymar ‘Ney’ reacts reactivation of the right fifth in front of me, I needed some- here,” he said. on his ankle in November to now is come back home, to treatment metatarsal” in Wednesday’s thing else. That something else “Even if tonight was not my remove a loose intra-articular have some rest.” to be more French Cup win against Stras- probably today, I don’t have it night it’s so important for me body and only resumed training He is targeting his next precise,” he bourg. yet. to be where I am coming back in December. tournament at Acapulco said after Brazil team doctor Rodrigo “That’s my feeling, to com- from injury. He played the opening round at the end of February and PSG beat Lasmar was expected to visit pete at this super high level.” “I really believe I played a at an exhibition event in Abu then Indian Wells in early Rennes 4-1 the world’s most expensive Despite the rout, Nadal said great two weeks of tennis, Dhabi to start his season, where March.