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Images from the third One-Day International between New Zealand and India in Mount Maunganui on Monday.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli hit half-centuries as a formidable Indian team completely dominated a hapless New Zealand for a series-clinching seven-wicket win in the third ODI, in Mount Maunganui, on Monday.
With an unassailable lead in the five-match series, captain Kohli signed off his tour Down Under on a high with a first ODI series win in New Zealand in 10 years. However, it is to be noted that prior to this, India played just one series in New Zealand since the one in 2009.
It was a complete team effort after the bowlers shot New Zealand out for 243 in 49 overs with all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who took 2/45, making his presence felt with the ball as well as on the field. Pandya was playing his first match after the suspension on him for sexist remarks on a TV show was lifted.
"Three clinical games for us. I couldn't have asked for a better performance after the first two clinical games. The relentlessness of the side is something that really pleases me," Kohli said in the post-match presentation.
The chase was a cakewalk with Kohli easing his way to 60 from 74 balls, while his deputy Rohit stroked a fluent 62 from 77 balls as the duo added 113 runs for the second wicket to set up the victory in only 43 overs.
"When a guy doesn't get runs in a couple of games, he's actually hungry to score runs and the opposition feels a bit nervous because he's gonna fire at some stage. So, that's the kind of confidence we carry in the team right now," Kohli said.
With the pitch on the slower side, the two fluent stroke-players had to keep it slower than usual but even that didn't come in the way of another comprehensive performance.
Once Shikhar Dhawan (28) was dismissed, caught in the slips off Trent Boult, Rohit, who till then went slow, finally opened up. He signalled his intentions with a straight six off Mitchell Santner.
Kohli, at the other end, punched Lockie Ferguson through the point and then hit Ish Sodhi for two boundaries. The first was a top spinner that was pulled through midwicket for a four while the next was cut for the same result.
Rohit, who has treated Ferguson with a lot of disdain, than hit a front-foot pull off the bowler for his second six.
His skipper also got a six off Ferguson even though he was not in complete control of the pull shot as the ball flew off the top edge.
Rohit was stumped off Santner's bowling, when he tried to go for an ugly hoick. His innings had three boundaries and two sixes.
Kohli, who registered his 49 half-centuries in ODIs, also hit six fours apart from the the six off Ferguson.
Just when a 40th ODI ton was looking imminent, Kohli's uppish drive off Boult failed to clear Henry Nicholls at extra cover.
However, Dinesh Karthik (38) and Ambati Rayudu (40) did their cause no harm with an unbroken 77-run stand for the fourth wicket to steer the team home.
Earlier, Pandya seemed unfazed by the tribulations of the past few weeks and made a significant contribution to India's impressive bowling effort which shot New Zealand out for 243.
Coming back into the side after the suspension on him for sexist remarks on a TV show was lifted, Pandya delivered figures of two for 45 in 10 overs and choked the run flow during the middle overs.
Captain Kohli's stand on the kind of balance that the Baroda all-rounder brings to the side stood vindicated during another controlled bowling effort by the visitors.
Save the 119-run fourth wicket stand between Ross Taylor (93 off 106 balls) and Tom Latham (51 off 64 balls), New Zealand couldn't really accelerate against the Indian attack on a pitch that was a touch slower compared to the second ODI.
Mohammed Shami again delivered with the ball as he took three for 41, to all but seal the third seamer's spot for the World Cup. He once again provided the initial breakthrough as Colin Munro (7) edged one to Rohit Sharma in the slip cordon.
Martin Guptill (13) then got a delivery from Bhuvneshwar Kumar, which moved a shade after pitching. The resultant nick was taken by wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik, replacing an injured Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who was rested for this game.
Kane Williamson's bane in the series has been not capitalising on good starts and it was no different in this game either with Pandya coming into the focus with an impressive catch at the midwicket off Yuzvendra Chahal to send back the Kiwi skipper for 28.
Pandya's bowling was sharp as he got a few to rear up to both Taylor and Latham, who resurrected the innings from 59 for 3.
In his second spell, he did get some stick but removed Henry Nicholls and Mitchell Santner in successive overs.
The first was a slow bouncer that climbed on Nicholls while the second was a length ball that was edged by Santner.
This was after Latham and Taylor were dismissed to leave New Zealand struggling.
New Zealand lost their last four wickets for 21 runs as the hosts yet again came up with a disappointing showing with the bat on a good wicket at the Bay Oval.