New Zealand vs. India: Cricket
This is a collection of articles archived for the excellence of their content. |
Contents |
Test matches
2010-12
The Times of India
See graphic:
India vs. New Zealand Cricket tests played 2010-2012 in India
...till September 2016
The Times of India
See graphic:
India vs. New Zealand Cricket tests played before Sept 2016
2019
ODI series
Napier: India wins
January 24, 2019: The Times of India
From: January 24, 2019: The Times of India
India Crush NZ By 8 wkts In Napier ODI After Bowlers Dismiss Hosts For 157
India produced cricket of the calibre that has become synonymous with Virat Kohli’s men to crush New Zealand in the first ODI but a bizarre and unprecedented sun-induced interruption overshadowed the on-field action here Wednesday. Entering the five-match rubber following maiden Test and ODI series triumphs in Australia, India signalled their intent with a clinical display, which saw them chase down a revised target of 156 by eights wickets in 34.5 overs.
The Duckworth-Lewis method came into the picture for an interruption which was not caused by rain for the first time.
On a near-perfect day, the only thing that didn’t go their way was the toss. But India made light of that by bowling out the home team for a paltry 157 in 38 overs.
Wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav was the most successful bowler, returning figures of 4/39 in 10 overs, while seamer Mohammed Shami finished with an excellent 3/19 in six overs. There were also two wickets for leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal. Captain Kane Williamson topscored for the hosts with 64 off 81 balls. In response, Shikhar Dhawan began the innings with a flurry of boundaries, eventually finishing as the top-scorer with 75 off 103 balls.
The left-handed opening batman, battling indifferent form, studded his innings with six boundaries. India were comfortably placed at 44 for one when, in a bizarre turn of events, players walked off the ground after dinner because the setting sun made it difficult for them to spot the ball at McLean Park.
This led to an interruption that has never been seen in international cricket before.
Because of the nearly half-anhour delay, the target was revised to 156 in 49 overs, which the visitors chased without much ado.
While Rohit Sharma may have lost his focus after the dinner break, Kohli and Dhawan didn’t let the sun-induced stoppage distract their minds when play resumed. Kohli, though, got out five short of a fifty.
The Indian captain hit three boundaries in his 59-ball knock before pacer Lockie Ferguson had him caught behind with a quick delivery that caught the batsman by surprise. In the course of his 26th ODI fifty, Dhawan became the joint fourth fastest batsman to reach 5000 runs. Dhawan needed 118 innings to reach the mark.
This knock will bring some relief for Dhawan as he hasn’t scored a half century in his last nine innings. Earlier, opting to bat, the New Zealanders were off to an inauspicious start, losing both openers Martin Guptill and Colin Munro within the first five overs with just 18 runs on the board.
By sending back Guptill in his 56th match, the 28-year-old Shami became the fastest Indian to reach 100 wickets in ODIs.
Coming into the series after a hugely successful 2018, Ross Taylor looked good in his 41-ball 24, but he was brilliantly caught and bowled by Chahal, who lured the batsman to dance down the pitch a tad too early with his change of pace.
Till Taylor was there alongside Williamson, things looked good for New Zealand, as the duo played a few delightful shots, especially the skipper whose trademark backfoot punch through the covers stood out.
Tom Latham was dismissed in similar fashion, with leg-spinner Chahal being the bowler.
Sun stops play
January 24, 2019: The Times of India
Rain often disrupts cricket, but in New Zealand it was the sun that forced players off the field on Wednesday during the One-Day International against India. The low angle of the sun hitting the Napier wicket was too much for batsmen, fielders and umpires, and senior umpire Shaun George took the players off the field with India 44 for one in reply to New Zealand’s 157.
“Everyone is being protected,” George said, adding it was the first time he had experienced play called off because of the sun.
It was a welcome break for India captain Virat Kohli, who had previously been dismissed when the sun was in his eyes.
“In 2014, this (sun break) rule wasn’t there. I actually got out in a game feeling like the sun was in my eyes,” he said.
“I’m glad it is (a rule) now because it was impossible to watch the ball in that particular phase. It was funny but it was something new.”
Play resumed after about 30 minutes, with the disruption reducing the match by one over. India’s target was reduced by two runs to 156, which they easily reached in 34.5 overs.
Mount Maunganui: India wins
January 27, 2019: The Times of India
From: January 27, 2019: The Times of India
MEN IN BLUE CRUSH KIWIS BY 90 RUNS, TAKE 2-0 LEAD
Wrist spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal continued to torment New Zealand batsmen after a collective batting effort, guiding India to an emphatic 90-run win in the second ODI. India now lead the five-match series 2-0.
Opting to bat, India piled up a challenging 324 for 4, riding on Rohit Sharma (87) and Shikhar Dhawan (66)’s fluent half-centuries. There were significant contributions from captain Virat Kohli (43), Ambati Rayudu (47) and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (48 not out).
Kedar Jadhav contributed a quickfire 22 not out in just 10 balls as he and Dhoni added 53 runs in final 4.2 overs for the unconquered fifth wicket.
The visiting bowlers then shot New Zealand out for 234 in 40.2 overs as India scored a comprehensive win to celebrate the country’s Republic Day in style.
Kuldeep and Chahal shared bulk of the spoils. Like in the first ODI, Kuldeep took four wickets while Chahal accounted for two.
The home side batsmen offered very little resistance save Doug Bracewell, who top-scored with 57. Kuldeep claimed consecutive wickets of Henry Nicholls and Ish Sodhi in the 31st over, as he polished off the New Zealand innings in a burst of three overs.
Chasing a stiff target of 325, New Zealand lost their top four batsmen, including skipper Kane Williamson (20) and senior pro Ross Taylor (22), by the 18th over when they touched 100-run mark.
The Kiwis were denied a strong start with Bhuvaneshwar Kumar (2/42) and Mohammed Shami (1/43) bowling with a lot of discipline.
When India batted, Rohit missed out on a chance to hit his first ODI in New Zealand. Rohit and Dhawan gave India a flying start with a 154-run opening stand from 25.2 overs during which the New Zealand bowlers were hit all over the park.
Dhawan was out in the 26th over as he thickedged a Trent Boult (2/61) delivery to Latham in the 26th over. He had nine boundaries in his 67-ball innings. Rohit, on the other hand, looked set for a century as he was batting beautifully but in the end fell short of the three-figure mark by 13 runs.
Paceman Lockie Ferguson (2/81), who was generating a lot of pace, removed the dashing Indian batsman who failed to put down a pull shot off a slower ball in the 30th over. Rohit had nine boundaries and three sixes in his 96-ball innings.
One-down Kohli and Rayudu did not give any respite to the Kiwi bowlers as the duo stitched 64 runs for the third wicket from 9.4 overs.
Kohli was in his imperious touch before he became Boult’s second victim in the 40th over.
Dhoni and Jadhav added 86 runs in the final 10 overs. Dhoni hit five boundaries and one six in his 33-ball unbeaten knock.
India wins the series
January 29, 2019: The Times of India
From: January 29, 2019: The Times of India
From: January 29, 2019: The Times of India
Mount Maunganui
A formidable Indian team completely dominated an out of sorts New Zealand for a series-clinching seven-wicket win in the third ODI, continuing to send a resounding message of its near invincibility to every World Cup opposition. With an unassailable lead in the five-match series, skipper Virat Kohli signed off his tour Down Under on a high with a first ODI series win in New Zealand in 10 years. However, it is to be noted that prior to this, India played just one series here since the one in 2009.
It was a complete team effort after the bowlers shot New Zealand out for 243 in 49 overs with allrounder Hardik Pandya (2/45 in 10 overs) making his presence felt with the ball as well as on the field. Pandya was playing his first match after the suspension on him for sexist remarks on a TV show was lifted.
“Three clinical games for us. I couldn’t have asked for a better performance after the first two clinical games. The relentlessness of the side is something that really pleases me,” Kohli said in the post-match presentation.
The chase was a cakewalk with skipper Kohli (60, 74 balls) and his deputy Rohit Sharma (62, 77 balls) adding 113 runs for the second wicket to set up the victory in only 43 overs. “When a guy doesn’t get runs in a couple of games, he’s actually hungry to score runs and the opposition feels a bit nervous because he’s gonna fire at some stage. So, that’s the kind of confidence we carry in the team right now,” Kohli said.
With the pitch on the slower side, the two fluent stroke-players had to keep it slower than usual but even that didn’t come in the way of another comprehensive performance. Once Shikhar Dhawan (28, 6x4) was dismissed, caught in the slips off Trent Boult, Rohit, who till then went slow, opened up. He signalled his intentions with a straight six off Mitchell Santner.
Kohli, at the other end, punched Lockie Ferguson through the point and then hit Ish Sodhi for two boundaries. The first was a top spinner that was pulled to the mid-wicket region while the next was a wrong ‘un on the fifth stump which he cut for another boundary. Rohit, who now has 39 half-centuries, was stumped off Santner’s bowling, when he tried to go for a hoick. His innings had three boundaries and two sixes. Kohli, who now has 49 halfcenturies in ODIs, also hit six fours apart from the the six off Ferguson. Just when a 40th ODI ton was looking imminent, Kohli’s uppish drive off Boult failed to clear Henry Nicholls at extra cover.
However, Dinesh Karthik (38, 38 balls) and Ambati Rayudu (40, 42 balls) saw the team through with an unbroken 77-run stand for the fourth wicket.
Hamilton: NZ wins
February 1, 2019: The Times of India
From: February 1, 2019: The Times of India
Bowler’s Fifer Helps NZ Decimate India In ODI
India seemed shorn of their aura in the absence of talismanic skipper Virat Kohli as pacer Trent Boult’s fiery five-wicket haul guided New Zealand to a stunning eightwicket win in the fourth One-dayer, halting the visitors’ domination.
With run-machine Kohli rested after the side claimed an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the fivematch series, India’s much-vaunted batting was dismissed for its seventh lowest ODI total — 92 in 30.5 overs here — after Boult (5/21) dished out a deadly opening spell.
It was also the lowest total posted by any side on this venue, the previous lowest of 122 also against India’s name. Boult wreaked havoc with the new ball and in Colin de Grandhomme’s (3/26) company utilised the swinging conditions at the Seddon Park perfectly.
In the absence of Kohli and an injured Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the Indian batting unit found the going tough against the Kiwi bowling attack. India’s lowest ODI total is 54 against Sri Lanka at Sharjah in 2000. It was also India’s second lowest total in ODIs against New Zealand, having somehow managed to surpass the 88 scored at Dambulla.
Bowling his 10 overs at a stretch, Boult troubled the Indian batsmen with both ways movement to return with impressive figures of 5 for 21, while Grandhomme gave him perfect support from the other end after New Zealand won the toss and elected to bowl.
While chasing, even though New Zealand lost Martin Guptill (14) and skipper Kane Williamson (11) early to Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2/25), the hosts completed the formalities in 14.4 overs with eight wickets in hand.
Henry Nicholls (30 not out) and Ross Taylor (37 not out) then completed the easy task for the Kiwis without any further damage.
Earlier, the pitch didn’t seem unplayable but the Indian batsmen failed to apply themselves against the swing bowling of Boult and Grandhomme. Only four Indian batsnmen — Shikhar Dhawan (13), Hardik Pandya (16), Kuldeep Yadav (15) and Yuzvendra Chahal (18 not out) — posted double digit scores.
Dhawan’s search for big runs continued and he was the first to depart, caught plumb in front of the wicket by Boult in the sixth over. Rohit, who is leading India in the last two matches of the series in the absence of Kohli, didn’t have a happy outing on his 200th ODI and was caught by Boult off his own bowling an over later. Grandhomme then joined the party and dismissed both Ambati Rayudu and Dinesh Karthik for ducks. A lot was expected from debutant Shubman Gill (9) but pressure got the better of him as he got out like Rohit, caught by Boult off his own bowling.
Wellington: India wins match, and series 4-1
February 4, 2019: The Times of India
From: February 4, 2019: The Times of India
Rayudu, Pandya & Chahal Star As India Eke Out 35-Run Win In 4th ODI, Take Series 4-1
A commanding knock of 90 by Ambati Rayudu rescued India from deep trouble and saw them beat New Zealand by 35 runs in the fifth One-Day International in Wellington to wrap up the series 4-1.
Captain Rohit Sharma admitted he took a gamble — and Rayudu made sure it paid off — when he opted to bat first instead of playing to India’s strength, which is chasing totals down.
They made a disastrous start and were four for 18 before Rayudu, with help from Vijay Shankar, steered the side to 252 and New Zealand in reply were all out for 217. “That partnership was crucial,” Sharma said.
“It was not easy after losing four wickets at the start and then to build that partnership and get to a decent total, I thought 250 was a really good score on that pitch.”
India went into the match with an unbeatable 3-1 lead in the series and looking to atone for their sole loss, an eight-wicket defeat in the previous match at Hamilton.
“If the series was on the line I would have batted second, it’s our strength to chase but we wanted to test ourselves, how we bat,” Sharma said. “We required guys to show character and they came out and showed a lot of character today.”
Four months out from the World Cup the series highlighted the gulf between second-ranked India and third-ranked New Zealand. It did look as if India were heading for another defeat when Matt Henry and Trent Boult ripped out the first four wickets in under 10 overs.
But when the swing bowlers were taken out of the equation, Rayudu and Shankar toyed with the attack, putting on 98 for the fifth wicket before Shankar was run out at 45. Rayudu, who faced 84 deliveries to reach 44, needed only 27 more for his remaining 46 runs in an innings that included eight fours and four sixes.
He had a life on 60 when dropped by Boult and was eventually removed when Henry, New Zealand’s most successful bowler, came back for his second spell. Hardik Pandya provided late fireworks for India with 45 off 22 deliveries, while Henry finished with four for 35.
New Zealand batted through to the 45th over, which captain Kane Williamson described as “a step in the right direction” after being comprehensively beaten in the first three games of the series.
Like India, New Zealand’s top order also went cheaply, before a 67-run stand by Williamson (39) and Tom Latham (37) for the fourth wicket. But after they went in quick succession Yuzvendra Chahal led a spin assault that saw the hosts all out for 217, with Chahal taking three wickets for 41 with all of them being leg-befores.
T20s
Wellington: New Zealand wins
February 7, 2019: The Times of India
From: February 7, 2019: The Times of India
India Slump To Heaviest T20 Defeat In First Match Of Series
A below-par India slumped to their worst defeat in T20 Internationals as New Zealand outclassed the visitors in all departments to win the first match of the series by a comprehensive 80-run margin here on Wednesday. Batting first, unheralded wicketkeeper-batsman Tim Seifert took the Indian bowling apart blasting 84 off 43 balls as New Zealand posted a commanding 219 for six.
With the star opening pair of skipper Rohit Sharma (1) and Shikhar Dhawan (29) departing within the Powerplay overs, the chase became a difficult one and India were all out for 139 in 19.2 overs. MS Dhoni (39 off 31 balls) did play his part but it was always an impossible chase with wickets falling at regular intervals at the other end. India had never lost a T20 International by 50 or more runs prior to this match. India’s previous worst was a 49-run loss to Australia back in 2010.
“We failed to get a good partnership. 200 was never going to be easy to chase,” said Rohit in the post-match presentation.
New Zealand bowlers kept the pressure on Indian batsmen, especially the two spinners -- leftarm orthodox Mitchell Santner (2/24 in 4 overs) and leg-spinner Ish Sodhi (2/26 in 3 overs).
Senior pacer Tim Southee (3/17 in 4 overs) had the best figures among the bowlers and the best delivery of the match was bowled by Lockie Ferguson, who yorked Dhawan.
They kept the batsmen under tight check and for some like World Cup aspirant Rishabh Pant (4, 10 balls), it was a frustrating little stay in the middle and he simply couldn’t get going.
On a pitch where Indian spinners Yuzvendra Chahal (1/35 in 4 overs) and Krunal (1/37 in 4 overs) went for plenty, the Black Caps slow bowlers literally tightened the noose on the visitors.
While Pant didn’t do his chances any good, Vijay Shankar (27 off 17 balls) impressed during his little cameo but would need to do more in order to book a place in that World Cup bound squad.
The Pandya bothers -- Krunal and Hardik -- endured a contrasting day. While Krunal (he also scored 20 off 18 balls) had an okay outing, Hardik would quickly like to forget the nightmare (2/51 in 4 overs and 4 runs) before India play the second match of the series in Auckland on Friday.
Earlier, Tim Seifert, whose previous best score in T20 Internationals happens to be 14, was promoted to open alongside Colin Munro (34 off 20 balls) and they added 86 runs in only 8.2 overs in a whirlwind start.
Seifert’s knock had seven fours and half a dozen sixes, setting the tone for a big total.
Seifert showed the intent straightaway as he gave Bhuvneshwar Kumar the charge, picking the knuckle ball early, dispatching it over mid-wicket for a six. The next shot was a four as he stood and hammered past the bowler.
With Munro hitting Khaleel Ahmed (1/48 in 4 overs) for two successive sixes, New Zealand were off to a blazing start scoring 44 off the first four overs.
Seifert was lucky to survive when Dhoni dropped a sharp chance after the batsman had edged one off Krunal.But he promptly put the next delivery into the stands.
There weren’t any signs of overt footwork but he shuffled enough inside the crease to make room for the big shots and in the process disturbed the line and length of the bowlers. When Hardik drifted on the leg stump, he was flicked behind the square and when he pitched wide outside off-stump, he was lofted over the cover point region.
Auckland: India’s maiden T20I victory on New Zealand soil
From: India Level Series With Maiden T20I Win on NZ Soil; Krunal, Rohit, Rishabh Play Lead Roles, February 9, 2019: The Times of India
MS Dhoni watched from 22 yards as heir apparent Rishabh Pant guided India to their maiden T20 International victory on New Zealand soil.
The seven-wicket triumph was set up by skipper Rohit Sharma (50 off 29 balls) in company of Shikhar Dhawan (30, 31 balls). The duo’s 79-run stand came after Krunal Pandya got three wickets to restrict the hosts to 158/8.
With his whirlwind fifty, Rohit also became the top run-getter in the format, surpassing Martin Guptill. “Very pleased to see how we bowled, and we were quite clinical with the bat as well,” Rohit said.
Dhoni, the original master finisher, couldn’t have been happier as he saw Pant control what could have been a tricky 159-run chase with an unbeaten 40 off 28 balls.
The series is now tied 1-1 with the decider in Hamilton on Sunday.
With the former India captain (20 not out off 17 balls) playing the role of a mentor at the other end, the 44-run stand was very significant as Indian cricket slowly moves towards a change of guard in coming days.
Pant’s one-handed six off Tim Southee or the bowler’s back drive off Scott Kuggeleijn to finish off the match were reminiscent of Dhoni’s best days. He hit four boundaries and a six in all. While bowling, Krunal Pandya enhanced his already growing reputation as a steady short format bowler with three important breakthroughs as India restricted New Zealand to 158/8.
Krunal (3/28 in 4 overs) dismissed Colin Munro (12) and skipper Kane Williamson (20) to peg the Black Caps back early in the innings. In between, Krunal also got the wicket of Daryl Mitchell
(1), who fell pray to an umpiring howler when ‘Hotspot’ showed a clear inside edge onto the pads.
However, Colin de Grandhomme, who has played for KKR in the IPL, then counter-attacked, scoring a blistering 50 off 28 balls, adding 77 runs with Ross Taylor (42 off 36 balls) for the fifth wicket. Once De Grandhomme was sent back to the dug-out by Hardik Pandya (1/36 in 4 overs) and Taylor was run-out, New Zealand’s chances of a big total went up in smoke.
It was a much-improved performance by the Indian bowlers with Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1/29 in 4 overs) removing Tim Seifert (12) in the very third over with a fuller delivery, inducing an inside edge to MS Dhoni behind the stumps. However, it was Krunal, who really applied the brakes after being brought inside the Powerplay overs.
The elder Pandya quickly found the ideal length, bowling his usual wicket to wicket deliveries with a flatter trajectory. Both Munro and Williamson got skidders. While the left-handed opener Munro hit one straight to the cover, Williamson was caught plumb in-front. However, it was the dismissal of Mitchell that once again raised the ‘Spirit of Cricket’ debate even though it was a clear case of an umpiring howler by TV umpire Shaun Haig.
At 50 for 4, it was De Grandhomme, who took charge as he attacked Yuzvendra Chahal (0/37 in 4 overs), hitting him for a couple of sixes.
