India in New Zealand, 3 ODI Series, 2020
Venue: Seddon Park, Hamilton
Date & Time: 05 February 2020
RR: 7.22 | New Zealand beat India by 4 wickets
New Zealand skipper, Tom Latham says that it was a great performance by the boys and it's been nice to cross the line. Adds that to have partnerships is always the key and the left-right combination helped them (during the century stand with Taylor). Mentions that to have wickets in hand helped them. On Ross Taylor, Latham says that he has done that for them time and again and it was a fantastic knock. Admits that their bowling is one area he is looking for improvement and hopes to achieve that in the coming games.
Indian skipper, Virat Kohli says that it was an outstanding performance by New Zealand. Adds that they batted outstandingly well. On their bowling show, Kohli replies that they were patient enough to pick wickets and got a run out as well. Admits that Tom Latham's innings took the momentum away from them. Credits the two batsmen (Latham and Taylor) for the way they batted. States that fielding is one area they were decent but it was not their best effort. Tells that the way New Zealand played, you have to admit that overall they were the better side. Praises the new Indian openers and hopes they will continue to do the same. Lauds Shreyas Iyer also for his knock under pressure and adds that KL Rahul was brilliant too. Considers these as positive signs. Feels that sometimes the results don't go your way but if you are playing good cricket, you are in good space.
ROSS TAYLOR IS THE MAN OF THE MATCH! Says that it's been an interesting summer for them and it was nice to cross the line. Mentions about the contribution of the top order and also praises the bowlers for restricting India under 350 which gave them a chance. Lauds Tom Latham for his batting and the way he targeted the short boundaries. Admits that Latham's knock made it easy for him. On completing 2000 international runs at Seddon Park, Taylor smiles and says that it's been a happy hunting ground for him. Hopes to put up a good performance in Eden Park as well. Shares that you try to not take the hangover of the last games and it was nice to stay till the end to finish this match.
India weren't too poor in the field but the dropped catch of Ross Taylor on 10 cost them the match. Their bowlers tried hard on a flat deck but the execution of the plan, especially when the pair of Taylor and Latham was batting, was not up to the mark. They would consider it as a rare off day at work and would look to bounce back in the second ODI. Stay tuned for the presentation...
What a scintillating knock by Ross Taylor! By no means, this was an easy chase. The Kiwi openers provided a decent start but it was not a quickfire one. The asking rate was quite high and the partnership between Ross Taylor and Henry Nicholls didn't take care of it at all. The Men in Blue were on top till the run out of Nicholls and the landscape of this run chase took a complete turn once Tom Latham arrived in the middle. The southpaw batted against his nature and stroked a 48-ball 69. He punished the Indian bowlers in the middle overs and snatched the momentum away from them. Rosco also joined the party and bathed in the light of renewed energy that Latham brought to the crease. Together the pair amassed 138 runs off 80 balls and brought the chase on track. The wickets did fall after that but the presence of Taylor meant that the Black Caps always had the game in their grasp.
New Zealand finally taste success! They have broken the deadlock. The Kiwis came close to winning on so many occasions in the T20I series but failed to cross the final hurdle. But not this time. Ross Taylor was the culprit in the past but he made sure that he stayed till the end to see his side home. This is now New Zealand's highest successful chase in ODIs.
14 needed off 18 balls. Shardul Thakur (8-0-68-1) is back on.
Mitchell Santner comes in now. To be part of another choke. Can he do something to stop it? Jasprit Bumrah returns. 9-1-50-0 so far.
Appeal for a run out! Virat Kohli is once again sure and runs in celebration. The third umpire is referred...
Well, we have been in this scenario before, haven't we? The match heading towards a finish, New Zealand coasting through but stuttering towards the end. Will they choke one more time? Colin de Grandhomme walks in now.
21 needed off 30 balls. Mohammed Shami (8-0-58-0) is back on.
Mohammed Shami is back for another spell. 7-0-50-0 are his figures so far.
James Neesham arrives in the middle. Time to Unleash the Neesh!
POWERPLAY 3 time. 5 fielders allowed outside the 30-yard circle, till the end.
Free Hit loading...
Shardul Thakur returns in action. 7-0-46-1 are his figures.
Jasprit Bumrah (6-1-22-0) is back into the attack.
Kuldeep Yadav (7-0-65-1) is back on.
Ravindra Jadeja is back into the attack. 9-0-49-0 are his figures.
Mohammed Shami (6-0-37-0) is back into the attack. 126 needed off 90 balls.
Shardul Thakur is back for another burst. 5-0-27-1 are his figures so far.
DRINKS BREAK. The game has swung again. 170 needed from 114 balls. Taylor and Latham are known to forge partnerships but this one looks too difficult even for them.
Kuldeep Yadav returns in action. He has been expensive in his 4 overs so far, going for 36 runs but has picked one wicket too.
Tom Latham is the new batsman.
Direct hit! Kohli is pumped up. Is Nicholls gone? Referred upstairs and replays show that Henry's dive has not saved him! Big break for India.
Jasprit Bumrah is back into the attack.
Stumping appeal referred upstairs. Looks safe, does Rosco. Is safe, as confirmed by the third umpire.
Mohammed Shami returns. 4-0-25-0 so far.
Ross Taylor walks in at number 4, replacing Blundell.
Kuldeep Yadav comes on to make it spin from both ends.
Tom Blundell walks in at number 3, replacing Guptill.
DRINKS BREAK. No wickets lost but New Zealand look way behind the 8-ball. The run rate is just shy of 6 while the required rate is creeping up towards 8.
Spin time. Ravindra Jadeja into the attack.
A man drops back to backward square leg now.
Shardul Thakur returns. 1-0-6-0 so far.
Bumrah is back on.
Change of ends for Shami. 2-0-14-0 so far.
Shardul Thakur to bowl now.
Given out LBW! Nicholls has reviewed it through. Seems pretty confident. Here comes Ball Tracker. Going over the stumps.
Mohammed Shami to bowl with the second new ball.
The players are back out in the middle. Jasprit Bumrah is already ready to bowl. Martin Guptill and Henry Nicholls are the openers. Guppy to face.
That's all we have from this contest! It was a high-scoring match but New Zealand scaled down a big target with 11 balls to spare. They have taken a lead in the 3-match series which makes the second ODI in Auckland a must-win for India. Do join us for that on Saturday, 8th February, at 1500 local (0200 GMT). Cheers!