New Zealand kick-started their Twenty20 World Cup campaign with a crushing eight-wicket victory which leaves India’s semi-final hopes hanging by a thread.
Trent Boult took three wickets and player of the match Ish Sodhi two as the Black Caps restricted the 2007 champions to just 110 for seven during the opening innings of the Super 12s match in Dubai.
Ravindra Jadeja’s unbeaten 26 gave India faint hope of keeping their last-four aspirations in their own hands but New Zealand made light work of the modest total, wrapping up victory with 33 balls to spare.
Daryl Mitchell fell one short of a half-century for the Kiwis, while captain Kane Williamson posted 33 not out, including the decisive run.
“A fantastic all-round performance from us against a formidable India side,” Williamson said.
“We were able to build pressure throughout and the way the openers came out really set the platform.”
Both sides came into the crunch contest with work to do having each suffered defeats to Group Two leaders Pakistan in their respective opening matches of the tournament.
After winning the toss and opting to field, the Black Caps swiftly set about dismantling their opponents’ top order.
Ishan Kishan was dismissed by Boult for four and, although progress was momentarily halted when Adam Milne dropped a regulation catch to remove Rohit Sharma for a duck, India had posted just 48 for four when captain Virat Kohli departed for nine on the opening ball of the 11th over.
India-born spinner Sodhi claimed the prized scalp of Kohli, tempting him into a slog sweep which was caught by Boult at long on, having earlier dismissed Sharma for 14.
New Zealand’s dominance dampened the atmosphere among the considerable Indian support inside the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
However, a slight blemish saw them concede 16 runs off the final eight deliveries, including a superb six from Jadeja, to add a little more interest to the chase.
India pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah managed to dismiss openers Martin Guptill and Mitchell for 20 and 49 respectively but experienced skipper Williamson expertly steered his side to a comfortable win with more than five overs remaining.
“I don’t think we were brave enough with bat or ball,” a dejected Kohli said after the loss.
“We didn’t have much to defend but we weren’t brave when we walked out to field,” he said.
New Zealand return to action against Scotland on Wednesday, while India’s salvage operation begins when they meet Afghanistan later that day.
They must win that match and, assuming Nambia and Scotland do not manage an upset, hope New Zealand then lose to Afghanistan, leaving all three sides on six points chasing the second qualifying spot behind Pakistan.
It would then come down to net-run-rate, and India’s need considerable improvement.
Republican
Guest
As I've been saying, NZ are the smokeys while they seem to fly under the radar in the Australian context, despite their status across all versions of the game being superior to ours. They will progress to the quarters and semis I reckon and are a good punt to take overall spoils. Im not confident that we will get to the pointy end of the comp. Australia has the tougher draw as well as being in the stronger grouping while our form is unsurprisingly mediocre if the game v the Sassenach is any indication.
Targa
Roar Rookie
Phillips is quality too. Okay I'm convinced. NZ has a better middle order than India
Sedz
Guest
England is 47/3 in 10 overs. Batting first is no problem for England. :laughing:
Bobbo7
Guest
Like the nonsense that is IPL contracts, no idea why India were massive favourites. NZ have been beating them at pretty much everything for a few years. WTC result a shock? Nope, NZ has the more balanced side, the best captain in world cricket and handles the big occasions generally. India are good but I honestly don't think they are a great aside now Kohli's form is on the decline.
Bobbo7
Guest
I would argue NZ had the better middle order. Williamson is a better player than Kohli these days, handles the big occasions and a much better captain. I would take Conway over any of the other Indian middle order.
La grandeur d'Athéna
Roar Rookie
At least do basic maths. New Zealand has three match left, so do we. But New Zealand has two points. So winning all those three means New Zealand will qualify no matter what and we are out.If Afghanistan defeats New Zealand, then given we can win all remaining matches net run rate will come into calculation. New Zealand losing against Afghanistan will down their run rate a little. But if they lose badly then Afghanistan will qualify given their huge net run rate automatically and we are out. If that does not happen then We will have to win all three matches by huge margin to take our net run rate up which current is at minus. But , what stops New Zealand from going ballistic against Namibia and Scotland? These are wishful thinking because i do not see Afghanistan beating New Zealand. If Afghanistan can defeat New Zealand,then they can defeat us with ease. Yes there is mathematically a chance, but the chance of galaxy spinning the other way is higher than we qualifying for Semi Final. This world cup is over.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Um, bad news for you. If Afghanistan beat NZ, they go to 3 wins. If India win ALL of their remaining matches, they go to 3 wins. – I’d check out the current differential in the NRR between the two teams if I were you..
Govind
Guest
Everybody is over reacting because 1 bad day. India still can qualify for semi.Once they get to semi they'll get much better & will show why India is superpower. Afghanistan will beat Nz easily.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Well at least if India does early exit it is with the knowledge that they stand or rather kneel for social justice.. :silly: Im sure that will make their supporters feel much better. :shocked:
Tempo
Roar Rookie
I reckon there's a few factors at play: - Dew has been a factor in some of the night games (not all). - The new ball does seem to swing a bit more in the first innings at night. E.g., Mitch Starc was swinging it v Sri Lanka, Woakes v Australia, even Trumplemann for Namibia v Scotland etc. Haven't seen that in the second innings, maybe due to atmospherics shortly after sunset vs later in the night? - The pitches are tricky so teams do not know a good score at the start of the innings. So they tend to either go too hard and lose wickets at the start or start too conservatively and leave it too late to catch up. - The best teams have tended to win the toss more (England 3 from 3). England would almost certainly have won all three games even if they'd lost the toss. Wouldn't be surprised to see the trend reverse a little in the next week, particularly if some weaker teams win the toss and chase, and as teams get more used to assessing the conditions and getting a good idea of par totals.
Carlin
Roar Rookie
Great result for New Zealand. Good to see Ish Sodhi bowling well on his birthday. The move of Darryl Mitchell opening the batting seems to be working. He looks really comfortable there. Plays well straight and also square of the wicket.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Perhaps it was an advantage bowling first but I also just dont see NZ only putting 110 on the board. 33 balls to spare tells me NZ would have had around 150 or more and I think India did not hit a boundry for something like 70 balls from the 6th over. that doesnt win T20s
Paul
Roar Guru
every chance you're right. The Black Cap bowlers did a terrific job, though they had a huge advantage bowling first.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Paul I felt the "Not brave enough: comments were that you just cant be under 100 with 3 overs to go and expect to win. India were at a low run rate for far to long.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
If he thought the body language was a sign of not being switched on when going out on to the field, well hey Virat, you're the captain, get them focused and geed up!
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Yeah I was actually going to state previously that I thought the better sides going in to the match had won the toss which I think is a bit of a statistical quirk. Most sides seem to like to bat first in the d/n due to the perceived dew factor (which may or may not eventuate), but also seem to do it in day games. One could argue India *was* considered a favoured team to win, but I'm actually not so sure they are travelling that well. Same with Windies - though those around the team seemed a bit more open about them not really firing leading in. The only two match I could pick with certainty where the favoured team lost the toss, batted first and still won is ENG playing v BAN.
La grandeur d'Athéna
Roar Rookie
This is one of those Bermuda triangle we have no explanation of. Do not get me wrong, but i believe if Australia plays New Zealand tomorrow, Australia will definitely win. If we play Australia, we will win. But then we play New Zealand, we lose. The voodoo circle never breaks.
La grandeur d'Athéna
Roar Rookie
Sometimes i really can not figure out Virat's world salad. We lost back to back matches by ten and eight wickets because we were not brave enough and intent was not there? It seems to me he is saying things just because he as to say something.
matth
Roar Guru
Then I have no clue. Maybe just a coincidence that up to now the majority of in form sides have also batted second?
Paul
Roar Guru
You're right of course, but I seriously think he couldn't believe what a hiding his side copped.