Kohli, Rohit fifties set New Zealand 270 in decider
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| Rohit Sharma gave India early impetus by scoring 70 off 65 balls |
On a slow pitch where boundaries were hard to come by, India set New Zealand a target of 270 thanks to half-centuries from Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli and the slog-overs enterprise of Kedar Jadhav and Axar Patel. Neither side got entirely on top of the other after India chose to bat, with New Zealand breaking partnerships just as they threatened to swell menacingly. Rohit fell after putting on 79 with Kohli at over a run a ball, and MS Dhoni was just beginning to get into gear when he was dismissed after a 71-run third-wicket stand with Kohli. The game could have gone either way when Kohli fell to leave India 220 for 5 in the 44th over, but Jadhav and Axar added 46 in 39 balls to give India what seemed a slight edge at the innings break, considering the slowness of the surface and the presence of three specialist spinners in their attack.