India tops ICC ODI Rankings; beat NZ to reach tri-series final

India became the number one team in the ICC ODI Rankings with 128 points after defeating New Zealand by 6 wickets in the ongoing tri-series at the R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo on Friday.

It is for the first time India has claimed number one in ODI’s since the rankings were introduced in October 2002.

India replaced South Africa by just one ratings point but if they lose the match on Saturday against the hosts Sri Lanka, they will again come on number two spot in the one-day rankings with 126 points.

A disciplined India spanked New Zealand by six wickets in a drab low-scoring match to book a berth in Monday’s final against Sri Lanka, while shoving the Kiwis out of the cricket tri-series in Colombo.

In a dull match bereft of significant batting pyrotechnics, India showed impeccable discipline to chase down the modest 156-run victory target with aplomb and nearly 10 overs to spare.

For them, Sachin Tendulkar (46), Suresh Raina (45 not out) and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (35 not out) came up with useful knocks as they cruised to 156 for four in 40.3 overs, sending the Kiwis out of the tournament after their second successive defeat.

Opting to bat first in the must-win game, New Zealand had earlier folded for 155 in 46.3 overs with Ashish Nehra (3/24) and Yuvraj Singh (3/31) mowing down the top and middle order.

Skipper Daniel Vettori topscored with 25, while Jacob Oram contributed 24.

Depleted by the absence of regular openers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, India sent Dinesh Karthik to open the innings with Tendulkar but the ploy did not click.

Kyle Mills trapped Karthik (4) in the third over even though the ball seemed missing the leg stump.

Tendulkar and comeback man Rahul Dravid added 60 runs to calm the nerves but the run rate was nothing home to write about.

Dravid’s ODI return did not prove memorable as he fell to Jacob Oram after a 45-ball 14.

Tendulkar, however, looked at ease and inching towards a well-deserved half-century when he chipped a Daniel Vettori delivery to the cover field and fell four-run shy of the mark.

Tendulkar’s 55-ball knock that had six fours in it.

Next man in Yuvraj Singh (8) opened his account with a four but miscued a slog-sweep to become Vettori’s second victim, leaving India at 84 for four.

Dhoni and Raina played sensible cricket, shunning risk but occasionally freeing their arms, to see India home with an unbeaten 72-run stand.

In a match conspicuous by the paucity of big shots, Raina hit two sixes, apart from three fours, in his 54-ball knock.

Earlier, Yuvraj and Nehra scalped three wickets apiece as India skittled out New Zealand for a modest 155 in 46.3 overs on a spongy track.