1st ODI: India thrash New Zealand by 53 runs (D/L)
On the flattest batting track in the country, India, after winning the toss and opting to bat, powered by half centuries from Virender Sehwag, skipper MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina, posted a formidable 273 for 4 in their allotted overs, and then restricted New Zealand to 162 for 9 in their 28-over run chase, to win the first one-day international by 53 runs and go one up in the five-match series.
With a flat batting track, lightning fast outfield, and short square boundaries, Dhoni’s decision to bat first was perhaps the right way to go in normal circumstances. However, television commentators wondered if that was the way to go, given there was a definite threat of rain interrupting play at the McLean Park.
India welcomed Sachin Tendulkar back into the fold, and Praveen Kumar and Munaf Patel also made it to the XI, while New Zealand left out Tim Southee from their XII-man squad.
Virender Sehwag kickstarted the proceedings for India scoring two boundaries in the first over and cruised to 23 from 19 balls when rain halted proceedings for the first time in the day. Close to two hours of playing time was lost, and hence the match was reduced to a 38-over affair.
With little time to get set, Sehwag and Tendulkar went after the Kiwi bowlers when they resumed play; Tendulkar, who had struggled for timing before the interruption, played some a delicate late cut off the bowling of Kyle Mills even as Sehwag bludgeoned the bowler for a six and a four off consecutive deliveries. However, in attempting a similar late cut, Tendulkar only managed a thick edge which was pouched by wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum; the little master was gone for 20, and India had lost their first wicket for 69.
Skipper Dhoni promoted himself up the batting order – a smart move considering India needed someone who could tick the strike over and give Sehwag more of the strike. Sehwag continued to find the gaps regularly and pick up the boundaries, and it seemed New Zealand had no ideas of how to stop the run flow. Dhoni and Sehwag added 52 runs at a run-a-ball when Sehwag was dismissed by an outstanding piece of catching; Sehwag carted a short one from Daniel Vettori through cover, but Ross Taylor, fielding at the edge of the circle at cover flung himself to his left and pulled off a blinder – a stunned Sehwag stood his ground in disbelief, but eventually had to leave the arena after playing an entertaining knock of 77 from 56 balls (11 fours and a six).
Yuvraj Singh, who walked in at number four, didn’t last long as he was involved in a mix-up with captain Dhoni and was run out for 2. Suresh Raina and Dhoni then kept ticking the strike over, while punishing the loose deliveries – dished out almost regularly. While Dhoni regularly ticked the strike over, Raina took his chances, improvised at times, and picked up boundaries. The duo added 110 runs in quick time – in 74 balls – even as both individuals went past their half centuries. Dhoni was the first of the two to get to his fifty, getting there in 66 deliveries, while Raina raced to the milestone in 31 deliveries.
Raina was dismissed in the final stages of the innings as he tried to force the pace, but not before he had made a handy 66 from 39 balls.
The thing with Raina’s innings was – unlike Sehwag’s blitzes earlier in the day which left everyone in awe – Raina had scored his 66 runs without too many noticing it.
Yusuf Pathan and Dhoni added 32 runs in the final three overs to take India to 273 for 4 at the end of the allotted 38 overs; Dhoni remained unbeaten on 84 (89 balls), while Pathan made a quickfire 20 (10 balls).
For New Zealand, two of its key players who returned to the line-up, had a forgettable outing; both Kyle Mills (7-0-69-0) and Jacob Oram (2-0-19-0) were severely punished and conceded eight boundaries and three sixes between them. Ian Butler returned with economical figures of 1/42 from his eight overs, while Vettori was once again the most impressive bowler for the hosts – finishing with figures of 1/42 from his eight overs.
Cut to the run chase, New Zealand were set a target of 278 to get off 38 overs, thanks to Messers Duckworth and Lewis. Facing a required rate of 7.32 at the start of the innings, New Zealand got off to a tortoise-like start, only scoring nine runs in the first five overs. Zaheer Khan and Praveen Kumar got the ball to move both ways, and the Kiwi openers had no idea how to get them off the square.
Brendon McCullum (0) was the first to go when he top edged a pull and was caught by Harbhajan Singh at fine leg. Trying to break the shackles, the other opener – Jesse Ryder (11) – attempted to flat bat a Praveen Kumar delivery, but only managed a leading edge and handed Sehwag a catch at mid off. With both dangermen back in the dressing room in the first eight overs, India had already taken control of the match.
Martin Guptill and Ross Taylor put up some resistance as they added 58 runs for the third wicket – but with the asking rate climbing, the duo had to take risks and eventually perished. Taylor (31 from 24 balls), who chose the sweep and the slog sweep to earn most of his runs, fell to the same shot as he top edged a sweep and was caught by Tendulkar at short fine leg.
Grant Elliott was the next casualty; he was run out trying to go for a risky second run, but was beaten by a good throw from Suresh Raina and Dhoni was quick to whip off the bails.
This was when the rains intervened again – with New Zealand at 111 for four in 20.5 overs, and the run chased was reduced to 28 overs, with the hosts given a revised target of 216.
If the Indian part-timers had done the job before the rain break, then it was Harbhajan Singh who got into the wicket-taking act when play resumed. He picked up three wickets in an over – in fact three wickets in four balls; Guptill, who had played a good hand of 64, decided to use the slog sweep, but he too got the top edge which was pouched by Gambhir on second attempt. Neil Broom had no clue about Harbhajan Singh’s doosra, stepped out to play for the off break, but was beaten all ends up and was stump by Dhoni. Mills kept out the hat-trick delivery, but Harbhajan Singh found the outside edge of Mills’ bat the next delivery, and Sehwag at slip stretched to his right to make it three wickets in four balls for the turbanator.
From 132 for 5, New Zealand had slumped to 132 for 9, and the contest was as good as gone. The last wicket pair of Daniel Vettori (26*) and Ian O’Brien (3*) batted out 3.5 overs and scored 30 runs, and in the process helped avoid what would have been their biggest defeat (in terms of runs) against India at home.
Zaheer Khan (1/19) and Praveen Kumar (2/28) were outstanding on the day, while Harbhajan Singh returned the most successful bowler on the day with figures of 3 for 27 from his four overs. Yuvraj Singh and Yusuf Pathan played a good hand by picking up a wicket each and restricting the run scoring after Zaheer and Praveen had tied down the Kiwi batsmen initially.
India: Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain/wicketkeeper), Yusuf Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Praveen Kumar, Zaheer Khan, Munaf Patel.
New Zealand: Jesse Ryder, Brendon McCullum (wk), Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor, Jacob Oram, Neil Broom, Grant Elliott, Daniel Vettori (captain), Kyle Mills, Ian Butler, Iain O’Brien.
