The third ODI of the series between New Zealand and India is underway currently as the home team is looking to whitewash the Indian team and avenge its T20I series loss. They have already taken an unassailable lead of 2-0 in the series and they started off well with the ball in the third match.
Kyle Jamieson sent Mayank Agarwal packing in the early phase of the innings while Virat Kohli too lost his wicket soon. Prithvi Shaw returned to the pavilion after an unlucky run out but Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul steadied the boat of the Indian team with a solid partnership. The duo added 100 runs for the fourth wicket before Iyer lost his wicket while checking a shot off Jimmy Neesham’s delivery.
However, that did not stop KL Rahul as he continued the onslaught on the Kiwi bowlers. He timed his innings to perfection as it never looked like he was taking any risks, He completed his 4th ODI ton and finally lost his wicket when the team’s score read 269/4. Rahul aggregated 112 runs off 113 deliveries in his knock which comprised of 9 fours and 2 sixes.
The right-handed batsman also stitched a century partnership with statemate Manish Pandey as the duo rescued the Indian innings and took the total near 300. Unfortunately though India lost their momentum in the final overs as Hamish Bennett ran through the lower middle order. The most interesting part of Rahul’s innings was his strike rate of 99.12. He was trying to take his strike rate in the range of 100-110. He attempted an aggressive shot which fetched him 6 runs but on the very next delivery, he handed one straight into the hands of Kyle Jamieson, who had just dropped Rahul on the previous delivery.
The Indian cricket universe is praising Rahul for his brilliant knock at the Bay Oval and here are the 10 best tweets on his hundred.
KL Rahul Becomes 1st Indian WK batsman to score ODI century against New Zealand..
KL Rahul Becomes 1st Asian WK batsman to score ODI century against New Zealand in New Zealand.. #INDvNZ #KLRahul
— Anukul Das (@anukuldas1800) February 11, 2020
https://twitter.com/FarziCricketer/status/1227096177654431744?s=20
Like Teacher.. Like Student
Only Indian Wicket Keepers to score ODI Hundred Outside Asia#RahulDravid #KlRahul #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/KX4hV357HN
— Thyview (@Thyview) February 11, 2020
CENTURYYYYYYYYY FOR KL RAHUL! ??
Quality knock, from a top quality player. ?#SaddaPunjab #NZvIND #CaptainPunjab
— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) February 11, 2020
Hundred for KL Rahul.
Team gave him extra responsibility in the form of a middle-order batsman + keeping role but he had taken with both hands and scored a stunning hundred from 104 balls. Well done, KL. #NZvIND
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) February 11, 2020
KL Rahul is saving Kohli fans from getting ultra depressed. Thanks KL, well played. Klaasy as usual. Top ?#NZvsIND pic.twitter.com/kanbMZCVvN
— Akshay Sharma (@hankyy_pankyy) February 11, 2020
KL Rahul and MS Dhoni raising their bat after scoring an overseas hundred.#NZvsIND pic.twitter.com/OxauaYmtbt
— Viru Sharma (@183_Mirpur) February 11, 2020
KL Rahul’s first hundred at No. 5 has rescued India after a top-order collapse ?https://t.co/e8eRNnML9F #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/603M3vpQG0
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) February 11, 2020
While KL Rahul scores century,
Youth icon Rahul Gandhi scores ZEROSo when life gives you an opportunity,
Grab it like KL Rahul & not Rahul Gandhi!
— Mahesh Vikram Hegde ?? (@mvmeet) February 11, 2020
KL Rahul walked out to bat at 62/3. His 4th ODI ? has put India in sight of 300!
New Zealand have aided India’s recovery by missing a couple of run out chances.#NZvIND pic.twitter.com/kRlLFLQbtJ
— ICC (@ICC) February 11, 2020
