Mitchell and Phillips hundreds overshadow Kohli ton in Indore
Cricket fans at the Holkar Stadium witnessed a high-scoring drama on Sunday as New Zealand defeated India by 41 runs in the India vs New Zealand 3rd ODI. Despite a fighting century from Virat Kohli, the Men in Blue could not chase down the massive target of 338 runs set by the visitors.
Batting first, the Kiwis faced an early scare, losing three wickets with just 58 runs on the board. However, the game changed completely when Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips joined forces. Mitchell played a marathon innings, smashing 137 runs off 131 balls, while Phillips provided explosive support with a quickfire 106. Their massive partnership propelled New Zealand to a commanding total of 337/8 in their 50 overs. Indian bowlers Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana managed to pick up three wickets each, but the runs leaked heavily in the middle overs.
In reply, India’s chase began on a shaky note. Captain Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma departed early, leaving the hosts struggling. The middle order also crumbled as KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer failed to make an impact.
However, Virat Kohli stood like a wall against the Kiwi attack. The chase master scored a brilliant 124 off 108 balls, keeping Indian hopes alive. He found some support from Nitish Kumar Reddy (53) and a spirited late cameo from Harshit Rana, who smashed 52 runs.
Despite these efforts, the target proved too steep. New Zealand’s bowlers held their nerves, with Zak Foulkes and Kristian Clarke taking three wickets apiece. India was eventually bowled out for 296 in 46 overs. While the result was a loss for India, the crowd was entertained by three spectacular centuries in a single day.
