New Delhi: Kane Williamson’s (118, 121b, 14×4, 1×6) brilliant hundred and some disciplined bowling backed by good fielding helped New Zealand beat India by six runs at the Feroz Shah Kotla here Thursday. Chasing 243 for victory, the Indian batters stuttered and stumbled before a superb cameo by Hardik Pandya (36, 32b, 3×4) lifted their hopes. But once he was dismissed by Trent Boult in the 49th over of the innings, the Indian hopes faded. The hosts were bowled out for 236 with four balls still left in the game.
Trent Boult (2/25), Tim Southee (3/52) and surprise package Martin Guptill (2/6 off one over) chipped away at regular intervals to fashion victory for the visitors. Much was expected of skipper MS Dhoni (39, 65b, 3×4) after the early dismissal of local poster boy Virat Kohli (nine). But once more it seemed that Dhoni’s Midas touch had deserted him as he played out a large number of dot balls and India lost their plot in the chase.
Earlier Williamson held the Kiwi innings together with a classy hundred but the Indian bowlers did not allow the visitors to capitalise on it and restricted them to 242 for nine. Other than Williamson, the only other batsman to make a contribution was Tom Latham (46, 46b, 6×4, 1×6). The Kiwi skipper had a lucky reprieve when Hardik Pandya failed to hold on to a low skimmer at mid-off. The batsman then was on 46.
The last 15 overs of the innings yielded only 66 runs for the Black Caps. While Amit Mishra (3/60) picked up the important wicket of Williamson, it was Jasprit Bumrah (3/35) whose bowling was a revelation during death overs.
He made a technically equipped Williamson crawl with a toe-crushing yorker and another unplayable delivery in the blockhole found Tim Southee failing to get his bat down.
Williamson added 120 runs for the second wicket with Latham and then 58 for the third with an unusually subdued Ross Taylor to put the Kiwis in a good position.
Agencies
