CRICKET AND FAMILY PACKAGE
Delhi defeat may have served as a warning, but the methodical chase gave India double joy, an easy win that also saw Dhoni back to his buccaneering ways.
And yes, we could relive Dhoni’s famous match-winning knock at No 4 in the 2011 World Cup final. He also completed 195 sixes, breaking Sachin Tendulkar’s record for maximum sixes hit by an Indian in ODIs. The 27,000-plus Mohali crowd went home happy. Dhoni would probably want to carry this piece of turf with him. It was here that he scored his last ODI century three years ago, against Australia.
He had got to his first ODI fifty in a year only to miss out on his 10th century. While he fell short, the 91-ball 80 helped him regain his mojo. Virat was monklike in concentration, happy to play second fiddle to Dhoni, before taking charge. Virat has now scored 21 of his 26 ODI tons in a winning cause.
The best ODI wicket in recent times at Mohali added to the charm of the game. Kiwis began well, but lost wickets to spinners Amit Mishra and Kedar Jadhav, which saw the batting collapse between overs 30-40. At 199 for 8, all seemed lost before the ninth-wicket stand of 84 between Neesham and Matt Henry. In the end, the effort was dwarfed by the Indian skipper and his deputy. The teams travel to Ranchiawareitisthehomeground of Dhoni. If he stays on the same gear, you will hear chants of Mahi maar raha hai once again. ON VIRAT KOHLI Long gone are the days when touring India was seen as a punishment by some international players. These days families of cricketers are happy to mix sports with tourism when the teams visit India. Like Ish Sodhi, spinner Mitchell Santner too has come with his family. Santner bowled impressively in the Tests. In Mohali, the Santners, father Peter, mother Kelly and sister Olivia were at hand to cheer him. “We haven’t seen so many people before. We’re enjoying the food. It’s an amazing atmosphere for cricket,” Kelly said. (SL)
Sanath Jayasuriya (SL) Saeed Anwar (Pakistan) 75 107 61 5490 3514 2614 3633 2837 100s 14 14 9 9 9 MOHALI:
SURPRISE PACKET
His off-spin in the first match in Dharamsala caught the Kiwis off-guard. It fetched Jadhav two wickets of James Neesham and Mitchell Santner off successive balls to peg back the opposition. In Delhi, he took one wicket for 11.
Once again in Mohali, Jadhav was brought on when the Kiwis were coasting at 73 for 1 in 12 overs.
His impact was immediate as he trapped the Black Caps skipper Kane Williamson plumb in front of the wicket. Williamson, centurion in the Delhi ODI win who had until then accumulated 22 runs, played across the line and Jadhav fooled him by bowling a straighter one.
COREY CORNERED Seventeen overs later, Jadhav was brought back into the attack and this time accounted for the aggressive Corey Anderson, who while trying to dispatch a full toss could only find Amid New Zealand’s poor tour, opener Tom Latham (61) scored his fifth 50-plus score. But it was James Neesham’s (57, 47b) 84–run ninth wicket stand with Matt Henry (39*) that ensured a fighting total. The Kiwis were 199/8 when Neesham turned it around. Ajinkya Rahane at covers. After accounting for two big guns, Jadhav’s third was an equally big wicket. He had Tom Latham, the Kiwis’ best batsman on this tour, caught by Hardik Pandya. Post match a beaming Jadhav couldn’t have believed his luck. Clearly, Amit Mishra had been the better bowler, inducing two stumpings off gem of deliveries. But Jadhav will go into the records with three wickets against his name, taking his series tally to six wickets. “I guess my action and the height at which I bowl makes it difficult for the batsman. I also change my pace. We don’t have an off-spinner in the side
(Maharashtra). So, whenever there is a lefthander batting, I am the one who takes the responsibility. I want to be good in everything and I am getting better.” On a good batting deck, Ajinkya Rahane was gone early as he spooned a catch to covers, and Virat Kohli, on six, only got the splice trying to steer Matt Henry, but Ross Taylor at gully dropped the chance, throwing away the chance to win. Indian limited-overs format skipper Dhoni’s first fifty-plus score in a year and 151-run stand with Virat to set it up. Virat then took charge, his 14th century in a successful chase equalling Sachin Tendulkar’s record.
ASIAN CHAMPIONS TROPHY 4:00pm, Korea v China, live on Star Sports 4 & HD4.
INDIAN SUPER LEAGUE 7:00pm, Goa v Kerala, live on Star Sports 1, 2, 3, HD1, HD2 & HD3. LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP 12:15am (Tue), Bury v Bolton, live on Ten 1 & 1HD.
He is somebody who always wanted to improve to win games for India. He is somebody who has learnt a lot and he is somebody who knows his strengths really well.
ATP TOUR
10:00pm, Swiss Indoors, live on Sony ESPN & HD.