Black Caps win a thriller
Captain Kane Williamson stood tallest and the usual suspects followed as New Zealand turned around a horror India cricket tour with a superb bowling performance under pressure.
A Tim Southee yorker to skittle Jasprit Bumrah with three balls remaining sealed a tense six-run victory in the second one-day international in Delhi, to level up the five-match series.
It was the Black Caps’ first ODI victory against India, in India, for 13 years.
Led by Williamson’s eighth ODI century, 118 off 128 balls, the Black Caps’ 242-9 looked well under par but thanks to Southee, Trent Boult and a two-wicket cameo from Martin Guptill, the tourists skittled India for 236.
The win was hugely significant for New Zealand’s horror tour to date, after a heavy 3-0 test series defeat and a six-wicket loss in game one in Dharamsala when they scored a paltry 190.
The victory was just their sixth in 29 ODIs against their hosts in India, their previous victory eight matches ago in Cuttack in 2003.
After resting in game one, Boult was the standout New Zealand bowler as he snared 2-25 off his 10 overs in tricky, dewy conditions at the Feroz Shah Kotla. He returned for the penultimate over to remove dangerman Hardik Pandya when he slapped a short ball to long off with 11 runs required off eight.
Then Southee finished the job when India needed 10 off the last over.
Umesh Yadav scored three off Southee’s first two deliveries before the senior man hit the tar- get when needed most to end with 3-52.
‘‘Not just myself, but a great effort by the bowling unit to restrict a good Indian side. Very satisfying,’’ Boult said.
‘‘We were probably under par on that wicket but there’s a lot of belief in the unit that we can defend that total.’’
The Black Caps wandered out after the innings break knowing they couldn’t restrict India and had to bowl them out, defending less than five an over against a very good chasing team.
Boult removed Rohit Sharma early then Mitchell Santner produced the big wicket with some good fortune when he removed Virat Kohli for nine. The leftarmer bowled a leg stump line and Kohli tickled an edge that was brilliantly held by gloveman Luke Ronchi
Kedar Jadhav (41 off 37) was India’s topscorer, before Guptill made a surprise appearance with the hosts needing 65 off 60 balls, and four wickets standing.
Spinner Anton Devcich, a late callup for Jimmy Neesham on a dryer-than-expected pitch, bowled nine overs for 48 but battled cramp. Boult had the ball for the 41st but after a conference between Williamson, Southee and Ross Taylor they threw Guptill the ball with spectacular results.
After two legside wides, Guptill got lucky with a full toss that Axar Patel hit to long on. Then when Amit Mishra skied one the parttimer spinner had 2-6 off his solitary over and doubled his ODI wicket tally.
‘‘Obviously [the plan was] go for as little as possible but remain aggressive,’’ Boult said.
‘‘We knew if we could keep taking wickets it would be an advantage and everyone did that nicely.’’
‘‘There was a lot of moisture and the wicket was holding a touch. It’s credit to smart bowling and mixing up your pace and your length. It proved very effective.’’
Game three is in Mohali on Sunday 9pm (NZT) with the series between the world’s third and fourth-ranked ODI sides well poised.
Fairfax NZ