Dhoni demolishes NZ
Feb. 16: India XI rounded of their World Cup preparation with a comprehensive 117-run win over the New Zealanders at the MAC Stadium here on Wednesday. On a wicket that settled down nicely after showing some early signs of life, the Indians made a grand total of 360/5 that was fuelled by a savage unbeaten 108 (64b, 11x4, 3x6) by skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
The visitors flattered to deceive as they sunk from a promising 94/1 to be bowled out for 243 in 43.1 overs. The key to chasing a mammoth target was maintaining momentum for long periods and the Black Caps failed to sustain pressure on the bowlers for a reasonable length. Wickets at regular intervals did not help the Kiwi cause. The first 10 overs proved a run feast where Ashish Nehra, Munaf Patel and S. Sreesanth were guilty of providing width.
It took a brute of a ball from off-spinner R. Ashwin that spat off a length to catch the glove of Martin Guptill in the 15th over to terminate the threatening partnership of 94. A sprightly Virat Kohli with an excellent pick up and throw from covers caught Brendon McCullum inches short of the crease. Jesse Ryder threw it away with a poorly timed drive off Harbhajan Singh. New Zealand XI clearly lost way from there.
The spinners kept a tight noose to dry the run flow. Dhoni delayed the second powerplay to deny momentum and it gave the spinners an opportunity to work their rhythm. The asking rate soon touched 11 per over and with only four wickets in hand the contest was reduced to a one-way street.
Earlier, it was a good toss to win for India XI and one that provided the batsmen first use of a track that was hard to judge. Sachin Tendulkar, in dire need of match practice, looked eager to his his stride, but missed a straight delivery from Tim Southee while trying to go across the line.
Virender Sehwag playing inside the line was castled by Jacob Oram to leave the task of building the innings to the Delhi duo of Kohli and Gautam Gambhir.
The pair did not disappoint. Playing the ball late and finding the gaps with regularity, they added 106 runs for the third wicket in 20 overs. Gambhir (89, 85b, 11x4) and Kohli went when they had the attack at their mercy.
Nothing changed as Dhoni and Raina took centre stage with some uninhibited hitting. Dhoni was severe on anything that was in the arc of his swinging the bat. Raina took a liking to the short boundary on the on-side. The ball change at the end of the 34th over proved to be the turning point as Dhoni bludgeoned a hapless attack into submission.
Scoreboard
Post new comment