Mount Maunganui: Colin de Grandhomme's 21-ball fifty after sublime hitting from Martin Guptill (66 off 46 balls) and Henry Nicholls (80 off 103 balls) helped New Zealand go from whitewashed to whitewashers in nine days, seal the series 3-0 against India by winning the 3rd ODI by five wickets at Bay Oval. Team India suffered an ODI series whitewash after 31 years. It was in 1989 last time, when the 'Men-In-Blue' were beaten 5-0 by the West Indies in an away assignments.
With this, Black Caps win ODI series 3-0 after losing T20I series 5-0. For India, young spinner Yuzvendra Chahal was the pick of the bowlers as he finished his 10 overs with 3/47.
The hosts were off to a very good start as they raced away to 50 runs in 7 overs with Guptill playing more aggressive role. The Kiwi openers gave their side a good start, especially Guptill who raced to a 29-ball fifty.
Guptill was taking the game away from India's grasp but leggie Chahal bowled a peach of a delivery to get rid of the dangerous Kiwi for 66 off 46 balls. At the close of the 23rd over of the chase, Henry Nicholls too scored a fifty leaving the Indian bowlers in dire need of a breakthrough.
The Indians finally got a chance to rejoice as Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson (22) smashed the long hop straight to Mayank Agarwal at mid-wicket, who completed the catch safely.
India then suddenly pulled themselves right back in the game as they struck two quick blows, including that of Henry Nicholls for a well-made 80, who was departed by all-rounder Shardul Thakur.
Virat Kohli brought Chahal into the attack and it worked for him. The leggie Chahal achieved a 3-fer by picking the key wicket of James Neesham for 19. In the end, Colin de Grandhomme's rapid half-century delivered Kiwis a five-wicket win over India and completed a 3-0 ODI series clean sweep.