India will be disappointed they didn't restrict New Zealand to a score of around 220-230, especially after winning the toss and putting the Black Caps into bat on a pitch that had pace and bounce, and after picking up a couple of early wickets through run outs. Kumble was very expensive going for 78 in his 10 overs. In his eighth over, Kumble went for 21, but he was certainly not the only bowler who came in for punishment.

As the Indian innings began, they were on target with the run rate, Ganguly making 60 runs off 50 balls. He needed to be batting till the 40th over for India to have a realistic chance of winning, especially without Sachin Tendulkar throughinjury. The required rate slowly grew to above eight an over after the 36th over, with the score on 187/6 but the innings fell away as the Black Caps bowling and fielding took control.

Azharuddin, who had difficulty in finding the boundary, did well to reach his 55th one-day 50. In attempting to try and increase the score, Azhar was caught by McMillan off Harris for 63. Useful performances by Jadeja, 25 off 39 balls and Dravid (29 off 35 balls), kept India on target but once they were dismissed, there was little resistance with India being all out in the 45th overs for 230, a win to New Zealand by 70 runs to tie the series 2-2.

Although India will reflect on the umpiring decision which should have gone in their favour, they will also rue how they allowed their disappointment to affect the game. At the end of the day all the players want is for decisions to be fair, but in situations such as this it is vital to refocus and get straight back into the task in hand. If anything, let circumstances outside yourcontrol encourage and inspire you to put in a better performance still and we did not see that today from India.

It has been a great month of cricket with the Indian team endearing themselves to the spectators through some wonderful batting displays by Dravid, Azharuddin and Ganguly. The Indian team will feel disappointed with not winning the one-day series, however a squared series is a fair result as the New Zealanders showed a more complete professional display, committed attitude to the game than they have for some seasons.