Sehwag's 60-ball 100, the fastest by an Indian, lights up a gloomy day
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Virendwer Sehwag's record century ensured India sealed the ODI series withu00a0a game to play in Hamilton today.
The opener reached the three-figure mark in just 60 balls, making it the fastest century by an Indian.
With rain affecting the match at several stages, the target was always being revised by the Duckworth/Lewis Method but it really made no difference to Sehwag's strategy as India were always very comfortable ahead of the revised required rate.
In the end, India were declared winners by 84 runs when they another shower stopped play with the visitors 201 for no loss from 23.3 overs. At that stage, the revised target was 220 runs from 36 overs. Sehwag was on 125 off 74 balls and Gautam Gambhi giving him good company with a 67-ball 63.
With Sachin Tendulkar nursing an injury, Gambhir opened the innings with Sehwag was played trhe perfect foil.
Earlier, Hamilton: New Zealand set India a 263-run target in 43 overs, according to the Duckworth-Lewis System in the rain-affected fourth One-day International at the Seddon Park here Wednesday.
New Zealand made 270 for the loss of five wickets in 47 overs. Brendon McCullum was the top scorer with 77 while Peter McGlashan remained not out on 56.
New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori won the toss and decided to bat in the fourth One-Day International (ODI) against India here at Seddon Park Wednesday.
While India made two changes from the side that won the high-scoring third ODI at Wellington by 58 runs, New Zealand line-up shows three changes.
India are playing without their star batsman and architect of the Wellington victory Sachin Tendulkar, who dropped out with a stomach injury sustained in the match, and Rohit Sharma comes in for him.
The other change is a fit Ishant Sharma returning to the side replacing Munaf Patel. New Zealand were also forced a change due to injury as Ian Butler makes way for Even Thompson to make his ODI debut.
Vettori, who missed the last match for the birth of his first child, replaces off-spinner Jeetan Patel, while Iain O'Brien returns to the side in place of Tim Southee who has been dropped from the squad after going for plenty at Wellington.
India's captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said after the toss that he was unsure what to expect from New Zealand who traditionally liked to chase targets.
"It will be tricky for New Zealand because they don't know what target to set. I should be interesting to see how they bat first," Dhoni said.
Vettori said he wanted to set a target for a change after failing to chase in the earlier games.
India lead the five-match series 2-0 after winning at Napier and Christchurch. The second match in Wellington was washed out -- the final game is in Auckland on Saturday.
No Indian team has won an ODI series in New Zealand
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