Cricket: India dismissed for 276 by NZ

Daniel Vettori (centre) and wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum (left) successfully appeal for the LBW dismissal of Indian batsman Rahul Dravid for no score. Picture / Reuters

New Zealand were set 277 to beat India in the one-day tri-series cricket final despite another top spell from spinner Daniel Vettori in Harare.

India were dismissed for 276 with three balls remaining after winning the toss, as Vettori tried all his tricks in a spell of two for 35 off 10 overs -- including the key scalps of a rampant Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid.

Vettori put the brakes on after it looked bleak at 155 for one in the 25th over.

Mohammad Kaif, after his unbeaten 102 in India's six-wicket win on Friday, again led the way with 93 not out after India lost six for 76 in the middle order.

There was late injury alarm for New Zealand, with paceman Shane Bond leaving the field with an ankle injury after taking one for 44 off 9.3 overs.

India's batsmen survived a fiery opening stanza from Bond before taking charge.

Openers Sourav Ganguly and Sehwag added 72 off 13 overs for the first wicket, before Jacob Oram recovered from some early punishment to break the stand.

He enticed Ganguly into a false shot on 31, hitting a simple catch to Hamish Marshall at backward point.

Oram took late wickets to end with four for 58 off 8.3 overs.

It was a much-needed two wickets in three balls from Vettori which pegged it back in the 25th over.

Sehwag cracked 12 fours and a six in his 75 off 65 balls, before Vettori beat him in flight and he hit a simple catch to Lou Vincent at cover.

Sehwag and Kaif had added 83 off 71 balls for the second wicket.

Vettori claimed the big scalp of Rahul Dravid when a quicker delivery trapped him leg before wicket, second ball, without scoring.

Kaif lost partners regularly afterwards but fed off enough wayward New Zealand bowling, facing 110 balls and hitting eight fours.

Kyle Mills took the final wicket of Ashish Nehra, caught on the boundary by Oram to give him figures of two for 45 off 9.3 overs.

* Scoreboard after the first innings in the one-day cricket tri-series final between New Zealand and India at the Harare Sports Club:-

India

V Sehwag c Vincent b Vettori 75
S Ganguly c Marshall b Oram 31
M Kaif not out 93
R Dravid lbw b Vettori 0
Y Singh c Bond b Mills 20
Y Rao c McMillan b Oram 8
M Dhoni lbw b Styris 11
J Yadav c McCullum b Oram 0
A Agarkar c Mills b Bond 6
I Pathan c Vincent b Oram 10
A Nehra c Oram b Mills 0
Extras (5lb, 13w, 4nb) 22
Total (49.3 overs) 276
Fall: 72 (Ganguly), 155 (Sehwag), 155 (Dravid), 185 (Y Singh), 203 (Rao), 230 (Dhoni), 231 (Yadav), 255 (Agarkar), 272 (Pathan), 276 (Nehra).

Bowling: S Bond 9.3-0-44-1 (1nb, 3w), K Mills 9.3-3-45-2, J Oram 8.3-0-58-4 (3nb, 1w), S Styris 8-0-56-1 (2w), D Vettori 10-0-35-2 (1w), N Astle 4-0-33-0 (1w).

- NZPA