NZ face record chase against India’s spin
Unprecedented, record-breaking, call it what you will, India set New Zealand a monumental task for victory on the fourth day of the first test in Kanpur.
The Black Caps needed 434 to win, a target never achieved before to win a test in India, when the hosts declared their second innings at 377-5 just 15 minutes before tea.
And it wasn’t hard to prove just how difficult that would be on a pitch offering world class spin duo Ravi Ashwin and Ravidra Jadeja, who had combined for nine first innings scalps, the perfect platform to go about their work.
The target was 47 more than the highest ever chase to claim test triumph in India, the eye-popping 387 achieved by India themselves against England in Chennai nearly eight years ago.
While it may come as a small glimmer of hope for Kiwi fans given it was chased by the visiting team, the next highest isn’t even within 100, the 276 ran down by the great West Indians at Delhi in 1987.
More than 200 has been achieved just nine times, and only two of those were not India.
Combine all those numbers with a honking, chanting and cheering home crowd of around 30,000 to deal and it was over to you, Kane Williamson and co.
After dramatically turning the test in their favour on a horror third day for New Zealand, India gradually added to their lead on Sunday morning before pushing the pace after lunch to set up the declaration.
The home side started the day 159-1 with a commanding buffer of 215 and although the Kiwi spin trio had a strong morning, they remained well on the back foot overall a.
Mitchell Santner, Mark Craig and Ish Sodhi picked up a wicket each as India lost three and added just 93 runs to their overnight total. Santner and leg-spinner Sodhi had got their side off to a tidy start, conceeding just 27 runs in a 10-over stretch that was capped off when Santner defeated Murali Vijay in flight and trapped the Indian opener in front for a stylish 76
Incoming captain Virat Kohli was afforded a couple of early chances to get his innings underway but it was not completely convincing from the superstar batsman.
A flashing drive off Santner that flew off the edge through backward point for four took the score to 200 but kept the Kiwis interested.
Five overs later were rewarded with another soft dismissal for Kohli as he top-edged a slog sweep right down Sodhi’s throat to be gone for 18.
A further three overs had past when Sodhi came around the wicket to the right-handed Cheteshwar Pujara on 78 and induced an edge through to Ross Taylor at slip.
From 228-3, Sharma joined Rahane and thanks to Luke Ronchi and Williamson being unable to grasp takeable catches to remove the latter they navigated the remaining 11 overs to lunch without any further damage.
Left-arm orthodox Santner had been the standout bowler of the morning after 11 straight overs to start the day reaped one wicket for just 21 runs. He’s the most popular Australian rugby player in Christchurch since Ben Matwijow, the last overseas lock imported to bolster an All Black-depleted Canterbury pack.
Dave McDuling scored arguably the most well-received try of the seven racked up by the defending champions against Otago at AMI Stadium on Saturday, as the New South Welshman took an inside ball from Luke Whitelock on the 22-metre line and surged clear.
‘‘By the time I got back in the sheds it was 40 metres,’’ McDuling grinned after Canterbury recorded a 45-34 victory that guaranteed their return to the top of the Premiership standings.
Breaking his try-scoring duck in his first start after two games off the bench against Hawke’s Bay and Manawatu was understandably satisfying for the 27-year-old, who barely played on the previous stop on the archetypal journeyman’s rugby odyssey.
Released from the Reds to join the Durban-based Sharks for this year’s Super Rugby tournament, McDuling was only given 11 minutes off the bench in the opening round rout of the Southern Kings, just long enough to take one lineout and run 13-metres.
Stephan Lewies and Etienne Oosthuizen were the preferred locking duo while McDuling was also unable to break onto Gary Gold’s bench.
‘‘I didn’t get much of a chance so I was looking for opportunities to play and Canterbury just popped up,’’ said McDuling of his move closer to home.
‘‘Razor [coach Scott Robertson] was looking for someone to complement the locks with a little bit more experience, they needed someone to fill that gap.’’
Matwijow, who moved to Taranaki this season after playing Super Rugby for the Reds, was that stop gap measure while Sam Whitelock and Luke Romano were unavailable in 2015 as Dominic Bird and Scott Barrett established themselves as the first choice second row combination.
McDuling, who played 12 Super Rugby games for the Reds in 2014-15, arrived in Christchurch aware he was the fourth choice but Romano’s return to the All Blacks for the four tests against Argentina and South Africa has offered the former Australian under-20s representative with an opportunity to impress.
‘‘That gave me a look in, now I’m looking to take whatever opportunity I can get to contribute to Canterbury and add to the winning legacy they’ve got here.’’
Although Christchurch is still in recovery mode after the earthquakes in 2010-11, McDuling considered the season-long move as attractive from a playing perspective.
‘‘The rugby is what drew me here. Canterbury are a worldrenowned team so I was pretty keen to put my hand up for that. I treat my career as an opportunity to learn and experience new things.’’ Like, say, the Ranfurly Shield. ‘‘I’ve always looked at it from afar, I’ve thought what a cool concept it is,’’ he said, looking forward to Wednesday’s challenge against Waikato in Hamilton.
‘‘I’ve watched it on TV remember when some of the smaller unions get hold of it the town comes alive. I know Canterbury haven’t had it for a few years now [2011].’’
Matwijow left for New Plymouth with a national provincial championship on his record and McDuling was keen to match that, even go one better by helping bring the Shield back to the city.
‘‘If I can be involved [in lifting the Shield] it’ll be another experience on the journey,’’ said McDuling, whose memories of his time in Christchurch are overwhelming positive.