Player of the Match
Player of the Match

5.16pm Finally NZ bring in a measure of parity to this series. India thoroughly dominated the first three games, but today has been a no contest. The ball swung, bounced and seamed, and India were all at sea. Not one batsman looked like he could hang around. India depend on their top order heavily. Today that top order didn't have Kohli. Then Dhawan fell early and all of a sudden the pressure was on. Once Rohit fell, too, things were already uphill with the middle order exposed early. That rarely ever happens. But losing the two openers happens routinely in ODIs. What doesn't is collapsing to 92 all out after that happens.

Boult was outstanding, using his swing to trample the Indian batsmen. He was accurate to a T with his lines and lengths, fed the drive with his fuller lengths, and outdid the batsmen with late movement and inducing errors from the batsmen. De Grandhomme kept the pressure on from the other end by regularly chipping away as well, and India never got out of the rut. Sure, they do have a strong bowling attack, but this may be too little for even them to defend. India's bowling has not been really tested in terms of pressure so far this series, but they will today. Time to see how they fare in a bit.

"It was good fun,"says Boult. "It's hot and humind and there's a lot of breeze out here. It looks like a good wicket, but credit to the lads for putting the ball in good areas. It was nice to come onto a surface that offered something from the start. We wanted to improve in all three areas and fielding was definitely right up there. It was good to see that energy on the field. I hope I don't need to bat."

30.5
W
Neesham to Ahmed, OUT, bowled him! India fold for 92, they have gone past their lowest score of 88 against NZ. But this has been quite the disaster for the visitors. This is a searing yorker, angling in, Khaleel jams the bat down and can't do anything about it as the ball sneaks underneath the bat and clatters onto the stumps

KK Ahmed b Neesham 5 (8m 5b 1x4 0x6) SR: 100.00

30.4
4
Neesham to Ahmed, FOUR, misfield at extra cover. Williamson lets this pass right through the legs as Khaleel drills this fuller one away
30.3
0
Neesham to Ahmed, no run, back of a length, outside off, backs away and keeps his bat inside
30.2
1
Neesham to Chahal, 1 run, full outside off, driven away to deep backward point

Dean Weaver: "I know Taylor has a good record for catches, but he does spill his fair share. I'm not sure having your hands on your knees right until the ball is bowled is ideal."

30.1
0
Neesham to Chahal, no run, full, angling into leg, driven back

END OF OVER:
30 | 7 Runs 1 Wkt | IND: 87/9 | RR: 2.90

  • Yuzvendra Chahal17 (35b)
  • Khaleel Ahmed1 (2b)
  • Todd Astle2-0-9-1
  • Colin de Grandhomme10-2-26-3
29.6
1
Astle to Chahal, 1 run, swept away, against the turn again, to deep square
29.5
0
Astle to Chahal, no run, wrong'un, back of a length, punched in front of off on the backfoot
29.4
4
Astle to Chahal, FOUR, pitched up on middle and leg, a bit of turn as well but he gets down for a slog against the turn and finds the deep square leg boundary
29.3
1
Astle to Ahmed, 1 run, dropped. Not much turn this time but Khaleel flashes hard without room and gets an edge that carries to Taylor's right but he spills it
29.3
1w
Astle to Ahmed, 1 wide, short of a length, big turn outside off, reaches out and can't make contact
29.2
0
Astle to Ahmed, no run, ah, most dicey leave of all time! This is the wrong'un, pitching well outside off. he's expecting it to leave him further. Instead it spins back and narrowly misses off stump
29.1
W
Astle to Kuldeep Yadav, OUT, ah, what do you know? It doesn't matter. Astle gets one to spin in sharply from a length outside off. Gets a bit of extra bounce as well. Kuldeep is down on one knee to sweep, gets a thick top-edge that sails into the hands of deep backward square

Kuldeep Yadav c de Grandhomme b Astle 15 (47m 33b 1x4 0x6) SR: 45.45

Thanks, Hemant. Boult's done. De Grandhomme's done.

END OF OVER:
29 | 2 Runs | IND: 80/8 | RR: 2.75

  • Yuzvendra Chahal12 (32b)
  • Kuldeep Yadav15 (32b)
  • Colin de Grandhomme10-2-26-3
  • Todd Astle1-0-2-0

Time for Akshay to take over

28.6
0
de Grandhomme to Chahal, no run, back of length outside off, pushes it towards covers
28.5
0
de Grandhomme to Chahal, no run, length ball around off, gets behind it and defends

Venkat: "Impressed with Kuldeep's batting. He should definitely bat ahead of Shami, Chahal and Bhumrah. He looks solid"

28.4
0
de Grandhomme to Chahal, no run, fuller on the stumps, pushed back towards the bowler
28.3
1
de Grandhomme to Kuldeep Yadav, 1 run, short of length on middle and leg, pulls it towards deep backward square leg

India in New Zealand 2018-19 News

New Zealand 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st14MJ GuptillHM Nicholls
2nd25KS WilliamsonHM Nicholls
3rd54LRPL TaylorHM Nicholls