Player of the Match
Player of the Match

9.16pm And that closes off our coverage tonight. Dominance from New Zealand and more questions and doubts for India. Thanks for sticking around till the end - on behalf of KK, Raghav and Chandan, this is goodbye. See you tomorrow.

Kane Williamson: There's always planning going into games. But a fantastic all-round performance from us against a formidable India side. We were able to build pressure throughout and the way the openers came out really set the platform. The balance of our attack has two spinners in it, I think the collective unit was impressive, the way they kept passing the baton. We saw some very good signs in our first match as well and we built on that. Look you play against such strong teams all the time, for us it's about playing our game. Ish is an outstanding T20 bowler, white-ball bowler in particular. He's been a big part and played in a number of comps, and in these conditions spin will play a part.

Virat Kohli: Quite bizarre. I don't think we were brave enough with bat or ball. Didn't have much to defend but we weren't brave when we walked out to field. When you play for the Indian cricket team you have a lot of expectations - not just from fans, but players as well. So there's always going to be more pressure with our games and we've embraced it over the years. Everyone who plays for India has to embrace it. And when you cope together as a team you overcome it and we haven't done it these two games. Just because you're the Indian team and there are expectations doesn't mean you start playing differently. I think we're fine, there's a lot of cricket left to play.

Ish Sodhi: I'm usually quite big on pre-match prep but with this bubble life we haven't been able to see the ground before we get there. It was out first time here at Dubai and something we had to adapt to. I think a big part of our game is using spin in the middle. I think Southee getting that wicket late in the powerplay was important, it allowed the spinners to bowl.

Ish Sodhi is the Player of the Match.


Deepanshu Khand: "Honestly, there is nothing wrong with the skill or anything. This Indian team just is too mentally fatigued, at least looks like it. I haven't seen an Indian team even in darkest of times, as mentally tired as this one. Kohli's body language is just not him! This isn't the fiery, electric kohli we relish!"

Ashish: "High time we redefine what positive intent and mindset means. Virat is a great cricketer and he talks well and he has a good head on his shoulders, but it's kind of exhausting to hear the positive and optimistic words and not see that in the games that matter. Bilateral series are a different matter, so we need to start looking at results in context, stop saying positivity as a deflector."

Dbss : "You have to appreciate the meticulous planning and exceptional execution by Pakistan and NZ bowlers against our star batsmen. Our batsmen need to go back to the drawing board and start afresh. Also BCCI need to allow them to play in overseas leagues when no major tour is on. "

Mayank Verma: "Probably the lowest point in indian cricket since 2007 ODI world cup..favourites but knocked out in round 1 with crushing defeats"

Anan: "Players aren't robots. Indian payers have been playing cricket at a stretch for the last month. Ipl is an extremely tiresome tournament. It puts Gallons of pressure on the players, extremely on the local players. After playing such a heavy tournament, you can't ask for better performance from the players. Don't you see the tiredness in the faces of the players? They should have had enough rest before coming to play the world cup. "

Faisal: "Looks like Afghanistan vs New Zealand match will decide the other semi finalist. Team blue is virtually out of the world cup. "


8.58pm Sullen faces from those in blue. Characteristically low-key from those in black. This group The race for second is now wide open. India currently sitting in fifth place, behind Namibia. Take that in! And New Zealand have a chance to put serious distance between themselves and India when they take on Scotland on Wednesday. India take on Afghanistan on the same day, and it could very well be their last match of any consequence in this tournament if they don't win that one. At the moment, Afghanistan, New Zealand, and Namibia are ahead of India as qualification contenders alongside Pakistan.

14.3
1
Thakur to Williamson, 1 run, points on the board for New Zealand. Kane Williamson and his men have figured out the conditions perfectly tonight and it is Williamson who seals a clinical win. Full and on leg stump, waits on it and flicks out to deep square
14.2
1
Thakur to Conway, 1 run, short and at the hips, swipes it down to fine leg

Abhi: "The bubble burst...due to bubble fatigue?!!"

14.1
1
Thakur to Williamson, 1 run, short of a length and just outside off, opens the face and jabs it down to third man

END OF OVER:
14 | 12 Runs | NZ: 108/2 (3 runs required from 36 balls, RR: 7.71, RRR: 0.50)

  • Kane Williamson31 (29b)
  • Devon Conway1 (3b)
  • Hardik Pandya2-0-17-0
  • Jasprit Bumrah4-0-19-2
13.6
1
Pandya to Williamson, 1 run, full slower ball outside off, mistimes the drive down to long-on
13.5
4
Pandya to Williamson, FOUR, full slower ball outside off, steps out to the pitch of this and brings out a gorgeous, flowing drive to clear extra cover with ease
13.5
1w
Pandya to Williamson, 1 wide, slower short ball, can't reach this one
13.4
4
Pandya to Williamson, FOUR, slower short ball at leg stump, it's high and heading behind him as it rises, but he arches back and has a late stab to get it over the keeper

James : "Controversial opinion: the IPL is harming Indian T20 cricket. More accurately, the BCCI's attitude to its players is harming Indian cricket. Half the New Zealand team, for example, plays IPL, and probably several other franchise tournaments (CPL, BPL, Big Bash, etc), so they get wide experience of different conditions. Indian players are banned from playing other tournaments, so they don't get that experience. " --- I agree to your broader point, except India did play the IPL in these conditions right? I think this is a longer chain - India insisting the IPL should be played in India back in March, the Covid infections as a result, the rescheduling making it so that the players would have no time before the World Cup (with all the cricket in between), etc.

13.3
1
Pandya to Conway, 1 run, short at middle stump, pulled to deep square

chakma: "No matter what angle you take, this was not a 110 pitch batting first by any margin"

13.2
1
Pandya to Williamson, 1 run, full at middle stump, flicks down to long-on
13.1
0
Pandya to Williamson, no run, good length offcutter just outside off, gets forward and defends towards backward point

Krishna: "Honestly, Bumrah seems like the only player capable of consistently delivering at this point"

Pratik Soholkar: "India is a brilliant Test match team who is winning everywhere these days but I must admit they are not playing good t20 cricket at all.."

END OF OVER:
13 | 2 Runs 1 Wkt | NZ: 96/2 (15 runs required from 42 balls, RR: 7.38, RRR: 2.14)

  • Devon Conway0 (2b)
  • Kane Williamson21 (24b)
  • Jasprit Bumrah4-0-19-2
  • Hardik Pandya1-0-5-0

And that is Bumrah done for the night.

12.6
0
Bumrah to Conway, no run, good length and just outside off, pushed into the covers off the front foot
12.5
0
Bumrah to Conway, no run, offcutter at a length outside leg stump, into the body as he gets forward and looks to flick

AlistairDiamond: "Well it's technically possible to take 9 wickets in two overs... Never seen it done though..." --- Slip in place...

12.4
W
Bumrah to Mitchell, OUT, short of the boundary and short of a fifty. I think he was looking to hit this straight over the bowler, but it's a dipping slower ball and he's managed to get it straight to long-on. Full and just outside off, full face offered and all, but was done for by the cutter

DJ Mitchell c Rahul b Bumrah 49 (57m 35b 4x4 3x6) SR: 140.00

12.3
0
Bumrah to Mitchell, no run, dipping slower yorker outisde off, met on the full but can only swish that in midwicket's direction
12.3
1w
Bumrah to Mitchell, 1 wide, short and down leg side, left alone

India have a 0.23% chance of winning this, according to Forecaster, if anyone's keeping tabs...

12.2
1
Bumrah to Williamson, 1 run, offcutter at a length outside off, steered to third man off the back foot
12.1
0
Bumrah to Williamson, no run, full and into leg stump, waits on that and drives down to long-on

Bumrah to bowl out

New Zealand 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st24MJ GuptillDJ Mitchell
2nd72KS WilliamsonDJ Mitchell
3rd15KS WilliamsonDP Conway

ICC Men's T20 World Cup

First Round Group A
TeamMWLPTNRR
SL33063.754
NAM3214-0.523
IRE3122-0.853
NED3030-2.46
First Round Group B
TeamMWLPTNRR
SCOT33060.775
BAN32141.733
OMA3122-0.025
PNG3030-2.655
Group 1
TeamMWLPTNRR
ENG54182.464
AUS54181.216
SA54180.739
SL5234-0.269
WI5142-1.641
BAN5050-2.383
Group 2
TeamMWLPTNRR
PAK550101.583
NZ54181.162
IND53261.747
AFG52341.053
NAM5142-1.89
SCOT5050-3.543