Latham move a masterstroke
As far as positives from the Black Caps’ 2-1 series loss against India go, Tom Latham’s slide into the middle-order is right up there.
Including a classy 65 from 42 balls in yesterday’s six-run defeat in Kanpur, the former opener scored 206 runs - only Indian captain Virat Kohli (263) amassed more - in the series.
Batting at No 5, Latham started with an unbeaten 103 from 102 balls in New Zealand’s six-wicket win in Mumbai, chipped in with 38 in the six-wicket loss in Pune, and had New Zealand on track to chase down India’s 337-6 before he was cruelly run out in the decider.
With an eye on the three-match
Twenty20 series between the sides, starting in Delhi on Thursday morning (NZT), it’s no wonder Black Caps captain Kane Williamson hailed Latham’s form since dropping down the order.
‘‘I think our middle-order with the bat was something of a highlight throughout the series,’’ Williamson said after New Zealand fell agonisingly short of their first bilateral series win on Indian soil.
‘‘Particularly Tom Latham, from opening the batting and coming into the middle-order, taking that role, adopting it like he has and batting so beautifully is a great sign for us.’’
Latham, who hadn’t batted at No 5 in an ODI since December
2014 before the series, was in control of every aspect of his game, and was particularly impressive against India’s spinners.
The 25-year-old used the sweep shot and reverse-sweep superbly and, with a string of textbook cut shots and flicks off his pads against the quicks in Kanpur, showed he’s far from a one-trick pony.
Who knows if New Zealand
would have pulled off the chase in Kanpur had Latham not been run out - the result of a mix up with an out of sorts Colin de Grandhomme - but chances are they would have.
He and Henry Nicholls, who put on a 59-run fifth-wicket stand, had their side right in the hunt with four overs to play, with 35 runs from 24 balls required, and with six wickets up their sleeves.
‘‘It’s been great . . . I probably surprised myself a little bit in terms of the role,’’ Latham said of his move down the order.
‘‘It’s been a great series to be a part of. It was played in great spirits, it’s always to great to come here. But, unfortunately, today we couldn’t get over the line.’’
The 2-1 series loss marked the second time in as many years the Black Caps lost a series decider in India, having lost a five-match series 3-2 a year ago.
Williamson said it was ‘‘hard to swallow’’, but he was clearly holding his head high.
‘‘Naturally, you look back at the game and to lose by six runs and come so close in a big run chase is frustrating, disappointing,’’ Williamson said.
‘‘But I think if you step back and look at the work that was put in in that batting innings, to get so close and for it to become such a fine line, I think it’s a really promising thing.’’
Meanwhile, India were left to celebrate their seventh straight bilateral ODI series win, and captain Virat Kohli becoming the fastest man to 9000 ODI runs.
Kohli whacked his 32nd ton after Williamson asked India to bat first, ensuring he eclipsed the milestone in just 194 innings - 11 less than South African AB de Villier’s previous mark.