29 Jan 2019

India are just better than us

7:11 am on 29 January 2019

The New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor has acknowledged India's superiority as the tourists clinched the one day series with a seven wicket victory in game three in Mt Maunganui.

Ross Taylor watches the ball as it goes for 4 runs.

Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The homeside again failed to bat their 50 overs as they made 243 with Taylor top scoring with 93, while the only other innings of significance was 51 from Tom Latham.

India reached their target with seven overs to spare with Rohit Sharma top scoring with 62, while captain Virat Kohli, playing in his last game of the series, made 60.

Trent Boult took two wickets and Mitchell Santner one.

Taylor concedes they've been unable to make inroards into the Indian game.

"To be brutally honest with bat and ball we haven't been able to penetrate, we back ourselves to be able to keep wickets in hand with the bat and we haven't ben able to do that>"

"India have put us under pressure for long periods of time and got wickets at crucial times and in New Zealand if you're three or four down and there's still 25 overs to go you're still a long way behind the game and we fought hard today but it just wasn't good enough."

Taylor concedes playing India is s significant step up from their last opposition, Sri Lanka.

"Those key moments, India are winning them and putting us under pressure and we're just not able to capitalise when we are in a semi-dominant position."

"But you've got to give credit to India, we haven't been able to get those early wickets to put them under pressure, vice-versa they're getting our early wickets and putting us under pressure."

India's captain Virat Kohli 50 not out.

Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Meanwhile Indian captain Virat Kohli says they've exceeded his expectations so far on their tour of New Zealand.

"Looking at the first three games we were looking to win at least two, but the fact that we have won three is an outstanding achievement and the thing that stands out for me is the relentless intensity which the guys have played through out these three games not relaxing after two-nil up as well, they've all been very clinical performances."

That was the last game of the series for Kohli who is returning home to rest.

Game four is in Hamilton on Thursday.