CHENNAI: Ravichandran Ashwin led a devastating spin attack as a second-string India thrashed New Zealand by eight wickets in the fifth and final One-Day International Friday for a 5-0 series clean sweep. The off-spinner grabbed three wickets for 24 runs off eight overs to help the host 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. For India, it was its 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,” said Indian captain Gautam Gambhir. “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. New Zealand suffered its 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. – Agence France
