[ad_1]
OVER 20: IND 121/2 (Kohli 20 Shreyas 28)
Trent Boult has come back into the attack and New Zealand really need him to make a breakthrough. Just two runs coming from his first over back into the attack.
We have a game now as we have passed the 20-over mark in the second innings. If play were to stop now and we did not get back on India would win.
Fog/ mist stops play
The players are making their way off the field. Who knows whether the conditions will improve. We are in the Himalayas and it is into the evening so you have to question whether the players will get back on.
If there was no more play the match would be abandoned as both teams have not yet batted 20 overs.
OVER 15.4: IND 100/2 (Kohli 7 Shreyas 21)
Chapman mis-fields on the cover boundary and it goes for four. Ferguson will not be happy with that. New Zealand need their fielding to be on point this evening if they are to defend 273.
More poor fielding will not improve Ferguson’s mood. Shreyas pulls him away down towards fine-leg and Boult cannot prevent it from going for another boundary.
We have another stoppage in play due to the conditions, whether you call it fog, haze, mist.
OVER 15: IND 91/2 (Kohli 6 Shreyas 13)
There is a haze that has descended on the ground in the last couple of overs; we are in the Himalayas in Dharamsala. The umpires have convened. Are going to go off? Not for the moment.
Santner probably bowls his worst ball so far tonight as he gets too straight. Shreyas flicks it off his pads past Henry at short fine-leg for four.
OVER 11: IND 71/0 (Sharma 46 Gill 25)
How is that not out? Santner bowls a beauty to Sharma that turns away from him. It takes the outside edge, manages to miss the stumps and hits Latham’s gloves but it does not stick. New Zealand have to take those chances if they want to win this match.
Next ball Sharma punishes the drop with a sweep over mid-wicket for six.
OVER 10: IND 63/0 (Sharma 39 Gill 24)
What a brilliant shot! Sharma gets down and sweeps Henry, who is fairly quick, over short fine-leg for four. Great ingenuity. A few balls later Sharma gets his front leg out of the way, makes some room and drills over wide mid-off for six. This is a masterclass in ODI batting at the moment.
That is the end of the first powerplay and it is safe to say India won that phase.
OVER 7: IND 48/0 (Sharma 28 Gill 20)
That is an outstanding cricket shot! Gill plays a delightful cover drive off Boult for four. He follows that up next ball with a drive through cover point for four. Two brilliant shots. Shubman Gill has just reached 2000 ODI runs in 38 innings, the fastest of all time.
Sharma finishes the over off with a punch for two through the covers. Boult has not found much rhythm and you would imagine Lockie Ferguson will be on very soon.
OVER 6: IND 36/0 (Sharma 25 Gill 11)
Henry is still causing problems for Gill. He has gone past the edge on a number of occasions and Gill is living a bit of a charmed life at the moment.
Gill decides to come down the wicket and he clips Henry just past mid-wicket and it just about gets to the boundary for four.
OVER 5: IND 32/0 (Sharma 25 Gill 7)
He is making it look so easy! Boult gets too straight and full and Sharma punishes it with a casual lofted drive over mid-off for six.
Is this a run-out at the non-striker’s end? Sharma drives forcefully back and it hits the stumps at the other end. Boult thinks he got a touch on it. Has he…
OVER 3: IND 22/0 (Sharma 19 Gill 3)
This is already looking a little ominous, in particular Sharma who has been in great touch in the tournament so far and has started off like a train in this chase.
Is that a drop? No it does not look like it carried. Sharma goes after a wide one and gets a thick outside edge which somehow falls short of Mitchell at slip. It squeezes past him and away for four to make matters worse for Boult and New Zealand.
OVER 2: IND 15/0 (Sharma 14 Gill 1)
Matt Henry opens up from the other end and he goes up for an appeal first ball against Gill. Not the most convincing shout with questions over height and whether the impact was in line.
Henry has been outstanding in the tournament so far and he is bowling well here. Until Sharma charges him and absolutely blasts him into space. It flies into the stands. What a shot! Sharma then follows that up with a flick off his pads for four. Good start for the hosts.
OVER 1: IND 4/0 (Sharma 4 Gill 0)
Trent Boult will open the bowling for New Zealand. The floodlights have taken full effect in Dharamsala.
India are underway second ball with the first boundary of the chase. Sharma just tucks it off his legs for four between fine-leg and deep square leg. Dot balls for the rest of the over.
This feels like a pivotal moment in the match. How the New Zealand opening bowlers, who are lethal, go against India’s openers, who themselves are so dangerous.
The run-chase
India need 274 runs to win in Dharamsala and if they do so, they will make it five wins from five. It feels like New Zealand are 20 or 30 runs shy of where they should have been but this will not be an easy run-chase for India. We are about to get back underway.
Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill will open the batting for India.
New Zealand batsmen Rachin Ravindra, who scored 75
“It took me a while to get into my rhythm and they bowled really well with that new ball up front so it was difficult for us to score.
“But after we saw that off, the partnership was able to flow a bit better between myself and Daryl and we were able to get a decent score on the board.
“We were looking at around 280, knowing that the pitch was keeping a little low and it’s not easy to start on but they pegged us back nicely at the death there with the way they bowled. We’ve got runs on the board so it is what it is.
“There wasn’t much turn for the spinners but it was definitely a bit up and down for the pace bowlers so hopefully our boys can make the most of that.”
Wicket
Mitchell c Kohli b Shami 130 Mitchell hits a Shami full-toss straight for six. He then gets another boundary as he lifts a shot over cover for four. But his fantastic innings is now over off the penultimate ball as he holes out to Kohli on the mid-wicket boundary. That is a fifth wicket for Shami. FOW 273/9
OVER 49: NZ 263/8 (Ferguson 1 Mitchell 120)
Not what New Zealand wanted. Mitchell wants to come back for two off the first ball of the new over but cannot get back which means Ferguson will be on strike. Ferguson gets off strike on the third ball. Only singles at the moment. New Zealand really need the boundaries now but they cannot find them. Just the three runs from Bumrah’s last over. One over left in the New Zealand innings.
OVER 46: NZ 249/5 (Chapman 3 Mitchell 112)
This is good death bowling from India. New Zealand were hoping a few overs back to get to 300 but they will have to go some to get there. If India keep taking wickets they could restrict New Zealand to 275.
Only four runs from the 46th over. That is the end for Siraj with the ball tonight. He finishes with figures of 10 overs, one maiden, one for 45.
Wicket
Phillips c Sharma b Kuldeep Yadav 23 Kuldeep comes on for his final over. Surely New Zealand will really target him? They do but Phillips gets it wrong as he tries to smash Kuldeep out of the ground. It goes in the air and with three Indian fielders converging, captain Sharma takes the catch. FOW 243/5
OVER 43: NZ 232/4 (Phillips 14 Mitchell 107)
That was super close to a run-out but in the end great running from Mitchell, who gets back for two.
Mitchell must think he was about to get a boundary but neat footwork on the deep backward square leg by Jadeja prevents the four and it is another couple.
Once again next ball Mitchell must think he is getting four. He smashes it past Bumrah but Shreyas does really well on the long-on boundary to keep it to a single.
OVER 41: NZ 222/4 (Phillips 11 Mitchell 100)
Bumrah is quickly back into the attack. He will be able to bowl four of the remaining 10 overs.
There is Mitchell’s 5th ODI century off exactly 100 balls. It has been a fantastic knock and he will be hoping to continue through to the end of the innings. He got there with a push into the covers for one.
OVER 38: NZ 209/4 (Phillips 2 Mitchell 96)
Mitchell is getting closer and closer to a magnificent hundred.
Bumrah bowls a brilliant yorker which Phillips just about manages to dig out to get off the mark. Phillips then is lucky to escape at the end of the over with an inside edge that evades the stumps.
OVER 36: NZ 197/3 (Latham 5 Mitchell 89)
Jasprit Bumrah is back into the attack. He has six overs remaining. Mitchell decides to take on Bumrah with mid-off in the circle. He gets it over mid-off for four. A few balls later Mitchell pulls in front of square for a couple.
Off the final ball Bumrah goes too straight and full, which Mitchell punishes with a flick down to fine-leg for four.
OVER 35: NZ 187/3 (Latham 5 Mitchell 79)
Kuldeep continues. That is terrible fielding from Bumrah, who allows Mitchell to come back for two when it should have just been a single.
Nearly a second wicket in quick succession. Latham goes for the sweep and the top edge goes just over short fine-leg and away for four.
OVER 33: NZ 173/2 (Ravindra 75 Mitchell 74)
Kuldeep Yadav will continue, under huge pressure. Yadav bowls a faster one out of the front of hand and Mitchell tries a reverse sweep that is unsuccessful. Mitchell did not read that delivery.
Drop catch! And another sitter! Mitchell hits down to wide long-off and it should be a simple catch for Bumrah but he shells it. Not only that it goes for four to compound Yadav and India’s misery.
OVER 32: NZ 167/2 (Ravindra 74 Mitchell 69)
Mohammed Shami is coming back into the attack. India desperately need a wicket to stunt the New Zealand momentum.
Ravindra decides to dispatch Shami over mid-wicket for four. He is seeing the ball pretty well at the moment. This is a real test of Sharma’s captaincy.
Time for drinks.
OVER 31: NZ 160/2 (Ravindra 68 Mitchell 68)
Kuldeep Yadav is coming back into the attack. You would imagine that New Zealand will target him like they did earlier, when Yadav went for 35 runs in four overs.
A couple of wides early into his return to the attack for Yadav as he is under big pressure here.
Ravindra comes down the ground and just about lifts it over Yadav for a single.
Mitchell then deposits Yadav over his head for six. India under big pressure at the moment.
OVER 30: NZ 147/2 (Ravindra 65 Mitchell 60)
Jadeja is going to bowl his 10 overs straight through.
That sounded like a drop. Mitchell goes for an expansive shot over cover and gets an edge which Rahul cannot get his gloves to. It goes low and quickly. A tough one for Rahul but maybe the best keepers would have taken that.
That is it with the ball for today from Jadeja. 10 overs for 48 runs. New Zealand will be very happy with that and the fact that for the final 20 overs Jadeja cannot bowl a ball.
OVER 29: NZ 141/2 (Ravindra 61 Mitchell 58)
Ravindra swivels on a pull shot for a couple to deep backward square leg. It looked like he was slightly early on it but adjusted well to not spoon it up into the air.
But has Siraj got Ravindra? He bowls a yorker that crashes into the pads and the umpire gives it out. Has that pitched in line or outside leg stump? Ravindra has reviewed…
OVER 25: NZ 125/2 (Ravindra 57 Mitchell 46)
Siraj is back into the attack.
A single from Mitchell brings up the one hundred-run partnership. They came together at a tricky moment for New Zealand and they have built a really strong partnership.
Siraj goes short and Mitchell pulls it in front of square for four. India are losing control at the moment and New Zealand are building momentum nicely. We are at the halfway stage of the New Zealand innings.
OVER 24: NZ 117/2 (Ravindra 55 Mitchell 40)
Jadeja continues and once again Ravindra and Mitchell run really well to get a two into the leg-side at the start of the over. Ravindra follows it with another two, this time punching it into the covers. Ravindra is looking so comfortable out there.
This time running for two is a little tighter. Mitchell punches out to deep cover and he is just back in his crease for the second run before Rahul whips off the bails.
OVER 23: NZ 110/2 (Ravindra 50 Mitchell 38)
Yadav is going to continue. Sharma might be thinking with New Zealand taking Yadav on, that could create a chance for a wicket.
A single down to long-on brings Ravindra to his fifty. He has batted really well in this tournament so far and today he has continued his fine form.
OVER 21: NZ 100/2 (Ravindra 40 Mitchell 38)
Mitchell goes after Yadav again and launches him back over his head for another big six. What does Rohit Sharma do with Yadav here? You feel he has to take him out of the attack for the time being, although India only have the five out-and-out bowlers.
The hundred is brought up with a wide.
OVER 19: NZ 90/2 (Ravindra 39 Mitchell 30)
Ravindra is going to target Yadav. He comes down the ground and launches Yadav over long-on for six.
Mitchell follows suit when he gets back on strike and smashes Yadav over long-on for the second six of the over. New Zealand look like they are going to try and bat Yadav out of the attack and put the pressure back on India captain Rohit Sharma.
Good running off the last ball gets Ravindra two more and that was a big over for New Zealand; 16 from it.
OVER 17: NZ 72/2 (Ravindra 29 Mitchell 22)
Kuldeep Yadav, the left-arm leg spinner, is coming on to replace Shami. Spin from both ends.
Mitchell plays a lap sweep down to fine-leg for a couple as Gill fields well on the boundary. Mitchell tickles round the corner for the same result next ball to bring up the fifty partnership.
Nearly a wicket for Yadav in his first over as Ravindra nearly plays it straight back to him.
OVER 16: NZ 65/2 (Ravindra 28 Mitchell 16)
It looks like Shami has just made his way off the field. Not sure yet whether that is an injury, comfort break or change of shoes.
Four singles from Jadeja’s third over. New Zealand are building a solid partnership here between Ravindra and Mitchell; it is approaching the fifty mark
OVER 12: NZ 48/2 (Ravindra 18 Mitchell 9)
Ravi Jadeja, having just dropped a sitter, is into the attack to replace Siraj. I do not think there is a bowler in the world who gets through his overs faster. No need to worry about over rates with him.
He drops short and Ravindra cuts him behind point for four. Ravindra has looked so classy at his first World Cup.
OVER 11: NZ 40/2 (Ravindra 12 Mitchell 7)
Ravindra has hit a couple of great shots already and that is one of them. He flicks off his pads through wide mid-on for four. He turned his hands at just the right moment and did not overhit it.
Drop! You do not see Jadeja drop many catches. Ravindra plays an aerial drive straight at Jadeja at point but somehow he shells it! A sitter you would call that.
OVER 10: NZ 34/2 (Ravindra 6 Mitchell 7)
A little bit of a concern for India as captain Rohit Sharma has just walked off the field. He landed awkwardly on the ball off the final ball of the last over but it looks like he may have injured a finger in the ground, which as we know in Dharamsala is not the greatest.
India think they have a wicket. Shami thinks he got an under edge from Ravindra through to Rahul behind the stumps and the umpire gives it out. Ravindra immediately reviews…
OVER 10: NZ 34/2 (Ravindra 6 Mitchell 7)
Siraj continues into his fifth over. Mitchell advances a little down the wicket and flicks off his pads past short fine-leg for four. Four wides in Siraj’s fifth over and you wonder if this will be the last over in his opening spell.
That is the end of the first powerplay and India have the advantage early doors.
OVER 8: NZ 19/1 (Ravindra 2 Young 17)
Young shuffles across his stumps to try and launch over the leg-side but it misses and hits his pads. India appeal but it is given not-out. Was it outside the line? India decide not to review having burnt one already.
Another appeal from India as the ball cannons into Young’s pads. But it looked like no inside edge and it was going over the stumps. Just the one run from the final ball of the over.
OVER 7: NZ 18/1 (Ravindra 2 Young 16)
Streaky boundary for Young. He flashes at one from Bumrah outside his off-stump and he is lucky that it flies past the two slips and down to third-man for four. This is a tricky phase of the game for New Zealand and they need to make sure they weather this storm as it will get easier. What they cannot afford to do is lose three wickets in the first powerplay which, with the way India are bowling, could happen.
OVER 5: NZ 10/1 (Ravindra 0 Young 10)
Young squeezes the first ball of Bumrah’s third over down to third-man for a single so Ravindra will face up to Bumrah, who has been on the money straight away.
India appeal for an LBW but it looks like it is going down leg. Bumrah does not look convinced but the keeper and slips do. Rohit Sharma decides to review…
OVER 3: NZ 9/0 (Conway 0 Young 9)
That went quickly. Young was trying to leave a ball outside off-stump but ends up making contact. The ball motors quickly to the third-man boundary where Siraj cannot prevent the boundary.
Dot balls from the rest of the over and it has been a probing start from Bumrah.
OVER 2: NZ 5/0 (Conway 0 Young 5)
It will be Mohammed Siraj from the other end. That is a really great shot to get Young and New Zealand going. Siraj offers a bit of width and Young hits on the up through point for the first boundary of the match.
Young gets a single off the final ball down to third-man to retain the strike.
OVER 1: NZ 0/0 (Conway 0 Young 0)
Jasprit Bumrah will open up for India with the new ball. He gets the first ball to move away from Conway, who pushes towards the ball but luckily for him makes no contact.
Bumrah bowls a number of outswingers and then brings a dangerous one back into Conway, who manages to keep it out. That is a great over to start proceedings for India with a maiden.
Looking at the India team not only do they only five frontline bowlers, they have a long tail. How might that affect the game?
Fancy a bet?
Both these side are 100% so far but which one will continue that today? Back your fancy with these betting offers and free bets.
Quick look at the teams
Unsurprisingly New Zealand are unchanged after four wins from four. The balance of the side looks good and they have plenty of players in form. No Kane Williamson after he fractured his left thumb earlier in the tournament.
As mentioned earlier, India are without Hardik Pandya so the balance is severely affected. They only have five genuine bowling options so huge pressure on each one of the frontline bowlers to bowl well because there are no other genuine options. If one of those bowlers, say Jasprit Bumrah or Ravi Jadeja, goes down injured early India could be in real trouble.
What do you think of the teams and how you think the game might play out? Make sure you give your views in the comments section at the bottom of the blog.
Boult: should be a cracker
Today’s game sees two 100% records go head-to-head and New Zealand seamer Trent Boult has predicted a stellar encounter today.
“India are a powerful team, they cover all bases. They’ve been playing some good cricket but it’s been a team that we’ve enjoyed playing. Nothing changes from our point of view really. It’s about going out there and being positive.
“These guys are very familiar with the conditions but they feel pressure just as much as any other batsman or any other bowler.
“I’m sure it will be a cracker: India in India: it doesn’t get much bigger than that. Our games so far have been relatively quiet crowd but we understand the intensity’s going to go up a little bit here.
“There might be a firework or two – but hopefully they’re for us. We’re looking forward to going out there, showcasing what we can do and just picking up where we’ve left off.”
Which 100% record will continue?
Dharamsala, the beautiful ground set in the Himalayas, is the scene for a battle between the only two sides currently with a 100% record as hosts India take on New Zealand. At least one of those 100% records will be gone be the end of the day. Both sides have won four from four so far and have comfortably looked the best two sides in the tournament to date. As the top four sides progress through to the semi-finals, India and New Zealand know they are already close to qualifying for the knockout stages.
It is no surprise that three batsmen involved today are in top five leading run-scorers so far; Virat Kohli (3rd) and Rohit Sharma (2nd) for India, Devon Conway (4th) for New Zealand. The joint leading wicket-taker is New Zealand’s Mitchell Santner on 11 wickets whilst India’s Jasprit Bumrah is just behind on 10 wickets.
India have been dealt a blow as they will be without all-rounder Hardik Pandya after he sustained an ankle injury against Bangladesh. India head coach Rahul Dravid has admitted the balance of their side will not be the same.
“Hardik is an important all-rounder; he helps us balance our squad out really well but he is going to be missing this game, so we will have to work around that.
“We’ve got to work with the 14 that we’ve got. We will have to see what works best for these conditions and these wickets. It probably might not be the kind of balance that we used in the first four games.
“We certainly can go with the three fast bowlers or the three spinners. We could play Ravi Ashwin, who has obviously been sitting out and who has great quality as well, and move Ravindra Jadeja up.
“So there are two or three combinations we could consider till Hardik gets back.”
Today’s result will not define whether these two sides progress through to the semi-finals, but instead could be a precursor to a meeting further down the road in the competition.
[ad_2]