After the second ODI between India and New Zealand got washed out, the two sides locked horns in the third match of the series on Wednesday at Hagley Oval, Christchurch. New Zealand captain Kane Williamson won the toss and invited India to bat first. Indian openers Shikhar Dhawan and Shubman Gill gave a decent start to their team adding 39 runs for the first wicket. However, it was Washington Sundar who stole the show with his fine fifty.
Just when the partnership was looking threatening, India lost their first wicket as Shubman Gill was dismissed by Adam Milne. India lost wickets at regular intervals throughout their innings and were reeling 121/5 after 25.3 overs. It looked as if the team will not even be able to play 40 overs but Washington Sundar had other ideas. The southpaw got set at the crease and gradually built his innings.
He built several useful partnerships with the lower order to take the team to a score of 219. The spin all-rounder added 31 runs for the eighth wicket with Yuzvendra Chahal and took India’s total past 200. The 23-year-old clobbered a six over deep mid-wicket boundary against Tim Southee on the first ball of the 48th over to bring up his maiden half-century in ODIs.
Washington Sundar’s 51 powers India to 219
With 16 balls left in the innings, the fans were hoping that Sundar will propel India’s total to 250. However, the Tamil Nadu-born cricketer’s brilliant knock ended on the third ball of the same over as he tried to slash a short delivery over point but could only manage to edge it behind to Tom Latham who didn’t make any mistake.
Sundar departed after scoring 51 off 64 balls with the help of five fours and one six. Apart from Sundar, Shreyas Iyer played a vital knock of 49 off 59 balls. No other batter apart from these two could cross the 30-run mark from the Indian team. Adam Milne and Daryl Mitchell were the pick of the bowlers for New Zealand who picked up 3 wickets each. Mitchell picked up 3/25 in 7 overs while Milne picked up 3/57 in 10 overs.
Meanwhile, Twitter was abuzz with several reactions from fans on Sundar’s knock. Here’s how Twitter reacted to Washington Sundar’s fifty:
2023 world cup se phale indian team ko ek allrounder mil gaya hai washington Sundar, ODI world cup me allrounder- hardik pandya, ravindra jadeja, washington Sundar
— Priyanshu yadav (@priyanshuabcd0) November 30, 2022
Washington Sundar will be a priceless asset to the Indian team, across all formats
— ghanshyamphulwariya (@ghanshyamphulw1) November 30, 2022
What an innings from #washingtonsundar he is showing that he can pace his innings based on the necessity. Play him at 7 in a long rope with Jadeja @ 5 & Hardik @ 6.
And make a point, we will never win big tournaments with 5 or 6 bowling options, more of it better it will be pic.twitter.com/neVtrHPeIE
— Thana (@Pitstop387) November 30, 2022
Fact ye h ki Washington Sundar bhi khudko Samson se jyada deserving prove kar diya.. But Samson itne saal se khel rha h ek baar b india ko jitwa nhi paaya..Ab saaf saaf ye kese bol de koi official?
— THOR-ASTRA (@unlshdbst) November 30, 2022
WHY WASHINGTON SUNDAR WAS NOT IN T20 SQUAD? WHY WAS THEIR AXAR PATEL??#NZvINDonPrime #NZvsIND
— Abhay (@abhaysrivastavv) November 30, 2022
Washington Sundar in Int'l cricket:
62(144) & 22(29) – In Gabba in Test.
85*(138) vs England in Tests.
96*(174) vs England in Tests.
37*(16) in NZ in ODIs.
51(64) in NZ in ODIs.
In just small sample size in Int'l cricket washi showed how good he is with bat.#indiavsnz pic.twitter.com/sP6fUMifIH— ?R?k? (@itiskarthik_rt) November 30, 2022
Washington bahut sundar player hai ? ? pant se to bahut hi jyada sundar hai ??
— Ashok Kushwaha (@Giant_Ashok) November 30, 2022
Meanwhile Washington Sundar Dad waiting for him, as he missed his century..#washingtonsundar #INDvsNZ pic.twitter.com/BnjRawqFEV
— ??????? ???????? (@KomaliPolitics) November 30, 2022
Washington sundar is really good , people don't appreciate him much #crickettwitter #IndvsNz
— FROST (Not too girly) (@19_depressedIct) November 30, 2022
If you need a left-hander in the middle-order for the World Cup next year, then groom Washington Sundar for that role. Will give you 10 overs as well and can bowl in PP too..
— Rishi Suliya (@Risishaaaa) November 30, 2022
