BANGALORE, (Reuters) – Yusuf Pathan’s maiden one-day international century lifted India to a five-wicket victory over New Zealand as runs flowed in the fourth match of the series yesterday.
Pathan smashed an unbeaten 123 from 96 balls and shared an unbroken 133-run partnership with Saurabh Tiwary to guide India to a huge target of 316 with seven balls to spare and give the hosts a 4-0 lead in the series.
The strongly-built Pathan came to the crease with India in trouble on 188 for five and he started cautiously before cutting loose to hit seven sixes and seven fours.
India made a decent start but a double strike from left-arm seamer Andy McKay in the 10th over pegged them back.
McKay removed the in-form Gautam Gambhir (27) and Virat Kohli (0) in the space of three deliveries before off-spinner Nathan McCullum dismissed Partiv Patel (53) and Yuvraj Singh (20) to reduce India to 108 for four.
New Zealand piled up 315 for seven from their 50 overs powered by James Franklin’s 69-ball 98 and useful contributions from Brendon McCullum (42), Ross Taylor (44) and Scott Styris (46).
Franklin followed up his unbeaten 72 in the last match with a superbly paced knock 12 fours and three sixes.
The left-hander smashed India paceman Ashish Nehra for 22 in the final over of the innings and New Zealand plundered 63 runs off the last five.
The fifth and final one-day international will be played at Chennai on Friday.