New Zealand set 316 target for India in Bangalore ODI

BANGALORE - New Zealand demonstrated fighting spirit by setting up a challenging target of 316 for India in the fourth One-day International (ODI) at the M. Chinnaswamy cricket stadium here Tuesday.

Put in to bat after Indian skipper Gautam Gambhir won the toss on a cloudy afternoon, middle-order batsman James Franklin steered the innings till the last, scoring 98 in just 69 balls with a dozen fours and three sixes.

Franklin, who scored 70 in the third ODI at Vadodara Saturday, was backed by solid knocks from Ross Taylor (44) and Scott Styris (46) as the visitors put up 315 for seven in their stipulated 50 overs.

Undeterred by the loss of the series with three consecutive defeats, Franklin tormented the Indian attack and the team posted 86 runs in the 1ast 10 overs, 64 of them coming in the last five.

Openers Martin Guptill (30) and Brendon McCullum (42) cut loose after a cautious start to post a breezy 62 runs for the opening wicket.

Guptill was the first to be dismissed when he was caught by Yuvraj Singh at cover off Ashish Nehra (2-70). Jamie How fell cheaply for four before Styris and McCullum put on 21 runs.

Big-hitting McCullum was looking menacing as he struck hit eight fours and one six, but fell to a brilliant catch by Rohit Sharma at mid-on off spinner Ravichandran Aswhin.

Taylor and Styris then steadied the innings with a 79-run stand for the fourth wicket.

Off-spinner Yusuf Pathan was the pick of Indian bowlers with three wickets for 49 runs in nine overs.

Franklin then staged the late charge to shore up the total.

With 20 extras, including a dozen wides and eight leg byes, India let New Zealand cross the 300 mark for the first time in the series.