Dhoni’s ton help India beat New Zealand by 117 runs

Chennai : India won their second warm-up game against New zealand by a massive 117 runs at the Chepauk Stadium here Wednesday.

Chasing a target of 361, New Zealand were all out for 243 in 43.1 overs.

India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni remained unbeaten on 108 and Gautam Gambhir made 89 as India made 360 for five in 50 overs.

Virat Kohli (59) and Suresh Raina (50) also come up with valuable contributions while batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar , who missed the first warm-up game, made just 17.

With openers Virender Sehwag (23) and Tendulkar back in the pavilion for 42, Gambhir resurrected the Indian batting along with Virat Kohli (59), adding 106 crucial runs for the third wicket to save India.

Dhoni shared a 68-run stand with Gambhir for the fourth wicket. But after Gambhir’s dismissal, Dhoni set the nearly-packed stadium on fire as he tore into the Kiwi bowling in the company of Suresh Raina, who made his exit just 12 balls before the hosts ended their innings.

Dhoni stole the show, mauling the New Zealand attack in just 64 balls with 11 fours and three sixes. Raina made a quick fire 50 off just 26 balls with three huge sixers and four boundaries and added 124 runs in 9.2 overs along with Dhoni.

For the hapless New Zealand, Jacob Oram and Tim Southee were the most successful bowlers sharing two wickets each, while Kyle Mills accounted for one wicket.

New Zealand were off to a good start with Martin Guptill (38) and Brendan McCuluum (58) adding 94 runs for the opening stand.

It was the Indian spinners again who were on target with the trio of Harbhajan Singh, Piyush Chawla and Yuvraj Singh picking two wickets each. Pacer Ashihs Nehra also bagged two while local boy Ravichandran Ashwin got one.