Dazzled NZ target India’s top order
The venue has changed but the Black Caps will again face a fierce glare.
New Zealand were sun-struck, thunderstruck and possibly even a little star-struck in the opening oneday international against India in Napier on Wednesday.
The eight-wicket defeat rapidly emphasised the vast gulf in class between previous visitors Sri Lanka and the second-favourites for this year’s World Cup.
It’ll be no holiday in Mt Maunganui either when the summer heat goes the hosts again today at a soldout Bay Oval in the second encounter of the five-match series.
Earlier this month, the Black Caps fended off Sri Lanka like Jonah Lomu did pesky would-be tacklers, bar some batting fireworks from allrounder Thisara Perera.
India proved instantly they’re a different kettle of hoki.
‘‘I think it’s obvious we know where we went wrong,’’ NZ swing bowler Trent Boult said yesterday.
‘‘Batsmen are looking to right a few wrongs, come out and set a good platform and obviously put a good target on the board and see what happens from there.
‘‘We were severely outplayed the other day.’’
New Zealand’s woes were chiefly with the bat after winning the toss and opting to bat, only to be greatly troubled by seam and spin as they were dismissed for 157 in 38 overs.
Boult felt more care may need to be taken.
‘‘The thing we’ve done well in the past is generally set that platform – [the openers have] given themselves a look at exactly what the wicket’s going to unfold like.
‘‘We know that early wickets in this format kind of kill you.
‘‘It’s about batting in partnerships and taking the game deep so we can really cash in in those later overs.
‘‘As a bowling unit, we’re trying to disrupt their top order to put pressure on their middle order – so it’s probably their secret as well.
‘‘If we can get three wickets in the first 10 overs, we know what pressure that puts on the rest of the team in the shed.’’
Boult said the hosts want to be as aggressive as they can with the new white balls.
‘‘Obviously look to get them out, because they’re quality batsmen and when they’re in, they’re very hard to get out. They are human and they do make mistakes – we could have got him [top-scoring opener Shikhar Dhawan] out there for 20-odd but we didn’t hang on to it.’’
Legspinner Ish Sodhi impressed in the second of two ODIs at Bay Oval against Sri Lanka but with allrounder Mitchell Santner fit again, the left-armer assumed chief spin bowling duties in Napier.
With several venues in England for the World Cup expected to assist the spinners, the Black Caps may experiment at some stage in this series with two turners.
‘‘You want to play your best bowlers that can take the wickets,’’ Boult said.
‘‘Ish has done extremely well for us, but where does he fit in in terms of who you don’t play?
‘‘I’m pretty sure we didn’t read the pitch – how it was going to turn and how we responded in Napier.’’
New Zealand held a fielding practice under lights on Thursday night, seeking to make amends for a terrible case of the dropsies in their most recent game at the venue.
India have already hinted at how comfortable they are confronting New Zealand without their firstchoice lineup by giving skipper and star bat Virat Kohli a one-way ticket home after the two games at Mt Maunganui.
Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan said the visiting squad were also fighting to guarantee their places for the World Cup squad.
‘‘The competition is always there in our side.
‘‘When the youngsters have come in, all of them have been performing really good. They’re maturing really quickly – everyone has to be on their toes.
‘‘At the same time, everyone has been performing really well. Our strength [of depth] is very good.’’
‘‘We were severely outplayed the other day.’’
Black Caps bowler Trent Boult