India vs New Zealand: Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma shine as hosts post 269/6 against Kiwis in 5th ODI

VISAKHAPATNAM: Half-centuries by Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma helped India post a total of 269/6 in the fifth and final One-Day International (ODI) against New Zealand here on Saturday. Both Kohli and Rohit were off to slow starts before going for the big shots once they got their eye in. Kohli scored 65 runs off 76 deliveries with two boundaries and a six while Rohit smashed five boundaries and three hits into the stands on his way to a 65-ball 70. Leg-spinner Inderbir Singh Sodhi and pacer Trent Boult bagged a couple of wickets each for New Zealand. James Neesham and Mitchell Santner claimed a wicket each. The five-match series is currently locked at 2-2 with both India and New Zealand winning two ODIs each. Rahane brought India's first runs on the board with a boundary through the off-side. The second boundary came in similar fashion as the right-hander clobbered a widish delivery from Boult. Rohit Sharma was off to a slow start before getting into his groove with a six over long-off off James Nisham. Rohit was lucky to be handed a reprieve when on 66 when he was dropped by Ross Taylor at short midwicket off Neesham's bowling. The Mumbai batsman could not however, make too much use of the opportunity as he was soon dismissed after mistiming a pull off Boult's bowling. Santner trapped Dhoni leg before with a beautiful delivery. Manish Pandey lasted all of four balls before holing out with a loose shot. Kohli followed him to the dressing room soon after while trying to go after Sodhi. The Indian vice-captain came down the track to Sodhi's half-volley but only managed to find Martin Guptill at long-off. Kedar Jadhav and Axar Patel produced a 46-run stand off 39 balls to give some late momentum to the hosts' innings. Jadhav scored 39 off 37 deliveries with two boundaries and a six. Patel smashed 24 runs off 18 balls before being bowled by an accurate yorker by Boult.