Mohammad Kaif slammed a sparkling century as India's top order batsmen came out of a prolonged form slump to fashion a convincing six-wicket victory over New Zealand in a crucial Videocon Cup match today.
Kaif notched up his second one-day international hundred to lead the batting revival as India overhauled New Zealand's score of 278 with 15 balls to spare, recording the highest run chase ever at the Harare Sports Club.
The win ensured that India will meet the Kiwis again in the summit showdown on September 6.
Kaif (102 not out) shared important stands with Rahul Dravid (39), Yuvraj Singh (22) and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (37 not out) for successive wickets to ensure India did not suffer from any hiccups in its chase.
India's next game against Zimbabwe on Sunday is of academic interest now.
It is also only the second occasion after the 2003 World Cup when India has chased a total as big as the one New Zealand presented in the afternoon.
Kaif in all batted for 121 balls for his 102 runs with 11 fours which is his second hundred in 95 games. His 101-run third wicket stand with Dravid was the cornerstone of India's reply.
India achieved the target in a flourish in the end with Dhoni striking a flurry ofblows to remain unbeaten on 37 from 27 balls with three fours and two sixes.
Well as Kaif batted, the foundation for the mammoth chase was laid by openers Virender Sehwag (45) and Saurav Ganguly (19) who put on 66 runs from a mere seven-odd overs.
Sehwag bludgeoned the Kiwis with a terrific innings which took him only 34 balls and included six fours before a ball from Jacob Oram breached his defence in the 10th over.
Ganguly for the second time in the series hooked impetuously for an onside fielder to get involved.
The momentum of the openers was not lost by the third wicket pair, especially Kaif who creamed many a sweetly drivenfour on either side of the wicket.
Kaif's half century was up from only 54 balls with eight fours and as Dravid also tookroots, the New Zealand bowling wilted.
Dravid departed in the 31st over bowled by a sharp in coming delivery from Scott Styris, incidentally the third time the Indian vice-captain has been bowled in the series.
Earlier, New Zealand were pulled back from a definite 300-plus total by some good Indian performance in the field.
Most of New Zealand's thrust came in the initial and final overs with Stephen Fleming (47), Lou Vincent (37), Craig McMillan (40), Scott Styris (56) and Brendon McCullum (28) being the chief protagonists.
Ironically fielding, the bane of Indian cricket, was the highlight as two crisp run-outs of two rampaging batsmen completely turned the game on its head.
Fleming (47 off 53 balls) and Vincent (37 off 23 balls) had given New Zealand a blistering start before both fell to outstanding work in the field by the Indians.
First, Ajit Agarkar dashed to his left to intercept a push by Fleming and turned on his heels to strike a direct hit at the bowler's end.
Then Yuvraj produced an absolute magic in flying to his left, swooping on a cut and make a whistling throw which took everyone's breath away.
Fleming had taken the early initiative in smashing the new-ball bowlers for eight fours and a six, five off Ashish Nehra and three offIrfan Pathan, besides that massive heave over long-off.
The good work was complimented by the bowlers among whom Agarkar and Jai Prakash Yadav were the picks. Agarkar bowled his first spell of seven overs for 30 runs and Yadav conceded only 23 from as many overs.
Both had a wicket also and Nathan Astle (11) and Hamish Marshall (8) were their victims.
New Zealand, from 115 for 4 in the 22nd over, once again found its mooring through the fifth wicket pair of Styris (56 off 89 balls) and Craig McMillan (40 off 54 balls) who put on 87 runs from 119 balls.
Brendon McCullum (28 off 21 balls) then wreaked damage towards the end, especially against Agarkar, whom he smashed for 20 runs in his final over. He was lucky too for he was caught off a no-ball at the start ofthe over.
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PTI
