India stuns New zeland
New Zealand were at the receiving end of another humiliation as a hapless batting performance sealed and their lowest score against India sealed a 0-5 whitewash, their first in a five-match series since 1984-85. On a dry pitch susceptible to the influence of the overcast weather, New Zealand were keen to make the most of initially favourable batting conditions, but their edginess against pace at the start of the innings, and capitulation to spin later on, ensured their misery in ODIs continued.
The slow bowlers were expected to play a prominent role as the day wore on and it didn't take long for Yuvraj Singh to step into the act. In the 17th over, after having built a stand of 43 with Styris, How tried to play across the line and was bowled as the ball straightened. Styris misread the length and played the sweep, almost as an afterthought, against Ashwin in the next over to be caught plumb. And Grant Elliott, included in the line-up to strengthen the batting, made no impact, failing to read the straighter one from Yuvraj to be lbw.
Three wickets in three overs, and the departure of Daniel Vettori to a catch at slip not long after indicated New Zealand were in a hurry to finish the game even before the weather, overcast and ominous, was given a chance to intervene. Sure enough, Kyle Mills' inability to read Ashwin's carrom ball and Tim Southee's gifting a catch to short leg marked a sorry end to a line-up that bats deep.
The early wickets of the in-form Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli were the only consolation as New Zealand succumbed to a 0-5 battering, with their World Cup preparations in disarray following a bitter experience in two recent assignments in the subcontinent. India, for their part, have been boosted by the successful return of Yusuf Pathan, the consistency of Ashwin while consecutive fifties from Parthiv Patel have further spiced up the selection race for the World Cup.
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The off-spinner grabbed 3 for 24 off eight overs to help the hosts bowl out New Zealand for 103 off 27 overs before India coasted to the target with almost 29 overs to spare.
Part-time spinners Yuvraj Singh and Yusuf Pathan chipped in with two wickets apiece as New Zealand was bundled out for its lowest total in one-day internationals against India.
It was India's second clean sweep at home since its 5-0 triumph over England in 2008.
"It was fantastic to see our bowlers perform even after sealing the series 4-0," Indian captain Gautam Gambhir said.
"I thought the wicket would turn in the second innings, but it started turning in the first over itself. I always felt we had the talent to win 5-0."
Parthiv Patel (56 not out) struck his second half-century in a row and added 97 runs for the third wicket with Yuvraj (42 not out) to guide India to a comfortable win in the day-night game at the Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
The Black Caps suffered their second series whitewash on the trot, having lost 4-0 to Bangladesh in a preceding one-day tournament.
"It was an incredibly difficult wicket to bat," said captain Daniel Vettori.
"We thought we would put up a decent score, but India bowled really well. When you continue to lose wickets, it takes the entire momentum away."
India's chase was rocked by early setbacks with Gambhir and Virat Kohli being dismissed inside the first four overs.
Gambhir edged Nathan McCullum behind the stumps off the third ball of the innings and Kohli was snapped up in the slips off captain and left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori.
Patel, back in the Indian team after a six-year hiatus, survived some early jitters to hit six fours and a six in his 70-ball knock. Yuvraj, named man-of-the-match, smashed six fours and two sixes off 46 balls.
Nothing went right for New Zealand after Vettori won the toss and elected to bat.
Fast bowler Praveen Kumar struck in the first over, removing Martin Guptill with his fourth delivery before left-arm paceman Ashish Nehra dismissed Brendon McCullum and Ross Taylor in successive overs.
The Indian spinners, led by Ashwin, then got into action, accounting for the rest of the seven wickets to fall.
New Zealand's batsmen struggled in overcast conditions, with a 43-run stand by Jamie How (23) and Scott Styris (24) the only decent effort.
India, fielding a weakened side in the series in order to give rest to its big guns ahead of an upcoming tour of South Africa, proved its bench strength with a clinical all-round performance.
New Zealand is next slated to play Pakistan at home.
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