India levels series as Black Caps fail to fire
AUCKLAND: The Black Caps had severe objections to a controversial umpiring decision in last night’s twenty20 against India, but they had little cause for complaint about the final result.
Daryl Mitchell’s debatable dismissal via review was a big talking point from the Eden Park encounter, but it turned out not to be a defining moment, as India cruised to a sevenwicket win to level the series.
Such a result wasn’t a surprise — India had not lost backtoback twenty20 clashes in a series since 2015, and it was always going to be hard for the Black Caps to back up their record win in the series opener.
However, it was all too easy for the visitor, which restricted New Zealand to 158 for eight, and chased it down comfortably, with seven balls to spare.
The Black Caps may argue things could have been different had Mitchell not been sent on his way in controversial circumstances. Given out lbw to Krunal Pandya on just his second delivery, Mitchell quickly reviewed, indicating to captain Kane Williamson that he had hit the ball.
That was what the review seemed to show as well, with the ‘‘Hotspot’’ technology showing a mark on Mitchell’s bat. There was no such mark when the ball passed the bat on ‘‘Snicko’’, but replays also seemed to confirm an inside edge.
However, Kiwi third umpire Shaun Haig did not see enough evidence for him to overturn the decision, potentially favouring Snicko over Hotspot, and with balltracking showing that the delivery would have gone on to hit the stumps, Mitchell was given out.
That was not the end of the matter though, with Williamson throwing his hands in the air in complaint and Mitchell delaying his exit, leaving the onfield umpires to discuss.
Indian captain Rohit Sharma and experienced campaigner MS Dhoni gathered around as confusion reigned, but in the end Mitchell had to respect the umpire’s decision, and depart with just a solitary run to his name.
His dismissal reduced the Black Caps to 43 for three, after neither Tim Seifert nor Colin Munro could repeat their performances from Wellington, and Williamson soon followed, also trapped lbw by Pandya — though there was no doubt with his departure.
Colin de Grandhomme gave the innings some muchneeded impetus with a 27ball 50, but he fell one ball after raising his bat, and while Ross Taylor’s 42 was handy, it came from 36 balls, as the Black Caps could not hit their way to a competitive total on Eden Park’s small boundaries.
Just 29 runs came from the last four overs as India executed excellently at the death, and to win, the Black Caps needed to produce another brilliant start with the ball.
Unfortunately for the Kiwi contingent of the 36,961 fans at Eden Park, Rohit Sharma quickly put an end to those hopes, smacking 50 off 29 balls as he passed the injured Martin Guptill to become the highest runscorer in twenty20 inter national history.
He added 79 for the first wicket with Shikhar Dhawan, and while Dhawan’s dismissal pegged India back to 88 for two after 11 overs, the required run rate was always manageable for the visitor, and Risabh Pant (40 not out) and MS Dhoni (20 not out) sent the series to a decider in Hamilton tomorrow. — NZME
New Zealand and Otago great Brendon McCullum has called time on the Big Bash as his playing days wind down following a remarkable career. Cricket writer Adrian Seconi had a frontrow seat for some of the former gloveman’s extraordinary performances and ranks his top 10 efforts with the blade.
The other Brendon McCullum
We became accustomed to watching Baz dance down the wicket and swivel into majestic pull shots or clout the ball over extra cover. But his strength — that unflinching and brazen willingness to attack — was also a weapon his critics used to smear him. He threw his wicket away too often, they said. He was brash, reckless and a hopeless gambler. But the innings we all remember the best was quite the opposite. He resisted every instinct he ever had and knuckled down to score a matchsaving 302 in the second test against India at the Basin Reserve five years ago. He faced 559 balls — enough for him to score a thousand runs if he was in the mood — and batted for nearly 11 hours. He also eclipsed the late Martin Crowe’s longstanding New Zealand test record of 299 and featured in a 352run stand with BJ Watling — a world record sixthwicket partnership at the time.
The Brendon McCullum we love
Twenty years of Otago pain was swept away in one whirlwind afternoon when B’Mac went nuclear. He smashed 170 from just 108 balls to help the Volts overhaul Auckland’s total of 310 for seven in the 200708 oneday final. It was Otago’s first title in two decades. His hundred came off just 52 balls which was a New Zealand record at the time. He whacked seven sixes and 19 fours in all. It is a bit of a blur now but his profound confidence remains clear. Noone else could have played that innings. Noone.
It’s show time
McCullum took centre stage during the inaugural match of the IPL in 2008. In a savage assault on Bangalore, he pummelled an unbeaten 158. It was an innings which fired the imagination of a cricketmad nation. It also made McCullum a superstar.
Six or out
McCullum came close to eclipsing Nathan Astle’s remarkable record for the fastest test double century during the Boxing Day test against Sri Lanka in 2014. He had swatted 195 in rapid fashion but was caught at long off trying to bring up the milestone in style. So close but...
This one’s for Phil
. . . he is on the list. McCullum has the fifthfastest test double century so far and it came from an angry place. It was the week Australian cricketer Phil Hughes was struck by a bouncer and subsequently died. McCullum paid tribute with one of his finest knocks. He bashed 11 sixes and 21 fours in a pulsating innings of 202 from 188 balls against Pakistan in Sharjah.
That semifinal
Grant Elliott soaked up the applause shortly after depositing Dale Steyn over the ropes to book New Zealand its first appearance in a World Cup final. His wonderful knock of 84 not out overshadowed what was another tremendous innings full of typical McCullum chutzpah. He set the tone for the chase with 59 from 26 balls. It gave everyone else in the lineup the momentum and belief required.
Two scoops
McCullum’s audacious undefeated 116 against Australia in a T20 in Christchurch in 2010 certainly highlighted his ‘‘no fear’’ approach. Who else would tumble into a suicidal scoop shot to deflect a 155kmh missile from Shaun Tait for six twice in an over. Watching filled you with equal parts exhilaration and terror. Don’t try that one at home folks.
The forgotten double
The year 2014 was so productive for McCullum he actually managed to score a double hundred to set up a win against India at Eden Park and it was forgotten within a week. It was his own fault. He followed up in the second test with an innings which is now permanently etched in New Zealand Cricket folklore. You will find it at the top of this list.
Droughtbreaker
Towards the end of 2013 McCullum was contemplating retirement. His back was sore all the time. He had not scored a test century in three years and he had plenty of critics pointing the way to the gallows. But against a struggling West Indies attack at his home venue in Dunedin, he slugged his way back into form with 113 from 134 balls. But he woke to more criticism in the papers the next day and came very close to throwing it all away. Thankfully he forged on.
Blaze of glory
Wherever you were, whatever you were doing, if McCullum was batting, you had to be watching. There was nothing more pressing. That will probably be his most enduring legacy. He was one of the greatest entertainers in the game. So how does a great showman bow out? By clipping the fastest test century in history. It took just 54 balls to bring up his 12th and final hundred in his last test (2016). He went on to reach 145 from 79 balls. Australia won the match but Baz got the standing ovation.