Match State: Match start scheduled for 2pm local time (0100 GMT)
welcome to Jade Stadium in Christchurch for the third One-Day
International of the National Bank Series between New Zealand and
India
it's a gorgeous day, perfect cricket-watching and playing weather,
a fair breeze blowing across the ground to keep temperatures in
the comfortable range
the pitch looks a cracker, nice and brown with only a few small
deceiving patches of green - quite traditional here in
Christchurch, has often fooled a touring captain in the past to
choose to bowl first, when in fact the green areas do nothing
whatsoever to aid the bowlers, as was the case the last time India
played here - captain Mohammad Azharuddin sent New Zealand in, and
they proceeded to smack the small matter of 300 runs on their way
to drawing the series in the final match
Sourav Ganguly hasn't made the same mistake this time, wanting to
get things off to a positive start in the first international
match of 2003, and hope India's team can end their losing run of 4
matches in a row, by winning the toss and opting to bat
New Zealand have named an unchanged line-up, with late replacement
Michael Mason not making his debut - simply replacing the
slightly-injured Shane Bond in the drinks-carrying role
for India, the expected return of Sachin Tendulkar has not
materialised, he is being rested for one further match, while the
team sports just one change from that which lost by 35 runs at
Napier, with Ajit Agarkar getting his first run in the series in
place of Ashish Nehra, while Rakesh Patel gets a fraction closer to
getting a run-on job, acting as 12th man today
the players make their way out to the middle in front of a
reasonable, but far from packed crowd, and it'll be Daryl Tuffey
to open up from the Hadlee Stand End
Virender Sehwag will take first strike, with Sourav Ganguly at the
non-striker's end
three slips, gully, third man, point, mid off, wide mid on and fine
leg in place
0.1 Tuffey to Sehwag, no run, another fine start for Tuffey, right on a
line and length straight away, has Sehwag fishing at it before
withdrawing late just a fraction outside off stump, through to
keeper McCullum
0.2 Tuffey to Sehwag, no run, and again! lovely bowling with extra
bounce from Tuffey, beats Sehwag all ends up, through to the
keeper again
0.3 Tuffey to Sehwag, no run, digs in an attempted bouncer, a little
wayward, heading down the leg side, ducks back out of the way,
lucky not to be called wide
0.4 Tuffey to Sehwag, no run, fair length ball but a bit wider outside
off stump, much easier for Sehwag to shoulder arms to leave it
0.5 Tuffey to Sehwag, no run, shortish lifting ball on off stump,
squares around a little to defend it firmly down towards point
where Vincent swoops on it, Sehwag at last experiences bat on ball
0.6 Tuffey to Sehwag, one run, shortish, straight ball, hops on the
crease, tucks it down just behind square on the leg side, easy run
on offer with wide open space there, India and Sehwag underway
End of over 1 (1 run) India 1/0 (RR: 1.00)
DR Tuffey 1-0-1-0 - Hadlee Stand End
V Sehwag 1* (6b) SC Ganguly 0* (0b)
Kyle Mills to open the bowling from the Port Hills End
1.1 Mills to Sehwag, no run, good start! fullish in length, just
outside off stump, plays and misses, beaten by a little away
movement through to the keeper
1.2 Mills to Sehwag, two runs, drops it a touch short and strays to
leg, sits up easily for Sehwag to wristily whip it away through
backward square leg, Tuffey does well to slide around from long
leg to keep it inside the rope
1.3 Mills to Sehwag, no run, tight shortish ball on off stump,
watchfully steers it away towards Vincent at point in defence
1.4 Mills to Sehwag, no run, similar again, squares right around,
solidly getting in behind it, firmly defending into the off side
1.5 Mills to Sehwag, no run, shortish lifting ball just outside off
stump, slashes and misses, beaten by the bounce, a bit tight on
him too, through to the keeper
1.6 Mills to Sehwag, FOUR, shot! a bit full and Sehwag simply stands
and delivers, driving on the up, through vacant cover with this
pseudo-Test match field set, doesn't bother to move an inch after
playing the stroke, classical stuff on a flat wicket
End of over 2 (6 runs) India 7/0 (RR: 3.50)
KD Mills 1-0-6-0 - Port Hills End
SC Ganguly 0* (0b) V Sehwag 7* (12b 1x4)
2.1 Tuffey to Ganguly, no run, fair length ball angling across the
left-hander finally seeing his first delivery, raises the arms up
high to leave through to the keeper
2.2 Tuffey to Ganguly, no run, fullish ball outside off stump, leans
into it, sweetly easing it square on the off side, Vincent across
quickly from point to field
2.3 Tuffey to Ganguly, no run, good ball! full and well bowled into the
deck, rises up sharply as Ganguly thrusts forward towards it,
beats the groping outside edge through to the keeper
2.4 Tuffey to Ganguly, legbye: one run, fair length ball swinging back
in, rapped high on the pad as it heads down leg, rebounds a fair
distance away behind square leg, stifled shout for lbw from behind
the wicket as a single is ambled
2.5 Tuffey to Sehwag, no run, tight shortish lifting ball on off stump,
hops on the crease to firmly defend down towards point
2.6 Tuffey to Sehwag, no run, good sharp shortish rising ball just
outside off stump, just holds the bat inside the line as it passes
through to the keeper
End of over 3 (1 run, maiden) India 8/0 (RR: 2.67)
DR Tuffey 2-1-1-0 - Hadlee Stand End
SC Ganguly 0* (4b) V Sehwag 7* (14b 1x4)
3.1 Mills to Ganguly, one run, tight shortish ball on off stump, dabs
it down just square of Oram in the gully, a little sloppily
fielded as he palms it down, and away from back-up fielder Vincent
from point, quick single taken as a result, Vincent's shy at the
bowler's end is wide
3.2 Mills to Sehwag, (noball) no run, oversteps, good shortish ball
moving away wider outside off stump, brings a slash and miss by
Sehwag
3.2 Mills to Sehwag, no run, fair length ball outside off stump, this
time more judiciously leaves it alone through to the keeper
3.3 Mills to Sehwag, no run, full and straight, sweetly and firmly
driven along the ground, straight up to McMillan at mid off
3.4 Mills to Sehwag, no run, beaten! good ball from Mills, full and
seaming away, invites the drive and Sehwag goes for it, plays and
misses, loud but unconvincing shout for caught behind turned down
wisely by umpire Cowie, doesn't stop the crowd showing their
disappointment after
seeing a replay on the big screen, however, good decision
3.5 Mills to Sehwag, no run, fullish ball outside off stump, strongly
punched square, straight to Vincent at point
3.6 Mills to Sehwag, OUT: but Mills gets him this time! fair length and
rising, moving away wider outside off stump, Sehwag falls back on
the crease, slashing at it but only succeeding in getting a thin
top edge straight through to McCullum
India 10/1, Partnership of 10
V Sehwag c McCullum b Mills 7 (20b 1x4 0x6)
End of over 4 (2 runs) India 10/1 (RR: 2.50)
KD Mills 2-0-8-1 (1nb) - Port Hills End
SC Ganguly 1* (5b)
VVS Laxman the new batsman, at the non-striker's end
4.1 Tuffey to Ganguly, no run, shortish rising ball outside off stump,
shoulders arms through to the keeper as it angles further away
4.2 Tuffey to Ganguly, no run, fair length ball but straying to the leg
side, flicks the pad, straight through to the keeper
4.3 Tuffey to Ganguly, no run, shortish lifting ball angling away
outside off stump, shoulders arms through to the keeper
4.4 Tuffey to Ganguly, one run, fuller ball outside off stump,
elegantly stroked through the covers, Vettori chases it down just
outside the circle from mid off, flicks it back to fellow chasing
fielder Vincent who fires it back in
4.5 Tuffey to Laxman, no run, fair length fullish ball moving away
slightly outside off stump, hops across his stumps towards it but
shoulders arms through to the keeper
4.6 Tuffey to Laxman, no run, shortish rising ball on off stump, hops
across to get in behind it, defending it down towards point
End of over 5 (1 run) India 11/1 (RR: 2.20)
DR Tuffey 3-1-2-0 - Hadlee Stand End
SC Ganguly 2* (9b) VVS Laxman 0* (2b)
5.1 Mills to Ganguly, no run, tight shortish ball on off stump, leans
forward, watchfully in behind it, quietly defending up towards
Hitchcock at mid off
5.2 Mills to Ganguly, no run, dropped! shortish lifting ball angling
away outside off stump, Ganguly fences at it, steering a big edge
towards Fleming's right at first slip, but McCullum ambitiously
dives across to intercept it, failing to glove it cleanly, was
just angling away
from him enough that it didn't go straight in
5.3 Mills to Ganguly, no run, shortish ball angling away outside off
stump, shoulders arms to leave alone to the keeper
5.4 Mills to Ganguly, no run, good shortish rising ball just outside
off stump, pushes away from the body at it again, beaten to the
keeper
5.5 Mills to Ganguly, no run, fuller and straighter, in behind it in
defence, firmly defends straight up to McMillan at mid on
5.6 Mills to Ganguly, no run, shortish lifting ball on off stump,
stands tall on the crease to steer it straight to point
End of over 6 (maiden) India 11/1 (RR: 1.83)
KD Mills 3-1-8-1 (1nb) - Port Hills End
VVS Laxman 0* (2b) SC Ganguly 2* (15b)
6.1 Tuffey to Laxman, one run, shortish ball but angling into the body,
hops on the crease to tuck it down off the hip to vacant
midwicket, easy single on offer to get Laxman underway as Vettori
fields from wide mid on
6.2 Tuffey to Ganguly, one run, shortish ball straying to leg again,
easily turned away down to fine leg for a single
6.3 Tuffey to Laxman, no run, beaten! shortish rising ball outside off
stump, Laxman pushes well away from his body, flashy hit risk
wristy shot, luckily for him, plays and misses to the keeper
6.4 Tuffey to Laxman, no run, shorter rising ball on off stump, jumps
on the crease to dead bat defend it down to Vincent floating
across in the covers
6.5 Tuffey to Laxman, no run, short rising ball fairly wide outside off
stump and seaming away, Laxman again chases after it with zero
footwork, and is again beaten to the keeper
6.6 Tuffey to Laxman, no run, excellent ball, just a touch outside off
stump, Laxman flinches at it, beats the gloves through to the
keeper, another fine Tuffey over
End of over 7 (2 runs) India 13/1 (RR: 1.86)
DR Tuffey 4-1-4-0 - Hadlee Stand End
SC Ganguly 3* (16b) VVS Laxman 1* (7b)
7.1 Mills to Ganguly, no run, beaten! fine seam bowling by this pair,
on the right length, just on or outside off stump and using the
seam of the new ball to good effect, Ganguly pushes at it but
misses, through to the keeper
7.2 Mills to Ganguly, no run, and again! a corker, Ganguly is helpless
once more, playing and missing to a perfect length ball just
outside off stump
7.3 Mills to Ganguly, one run, shortish ball just outside off stump,
steers it just wide of second slip along the ground, down to
Tuffey at third man
7.4 Mills to Laxman, (noball) no run, oversteps, fair length ball
outside off stump, leaves alone to the keeper
7.4 Mills to Laxman, no run, fullish ball outside off stump, drives and
misses through to the keeper, big but not 100% convincing appeal
for caught behind, turned down by umpire Cowie, again the crowd
react averagely upon seeing the replay, but didn't look to be a
touch there
7.5 Mills to Laxman, no run, short rising ball outside off stump,
shoulders arms through to the keeper
7.6 Mills to Laxman, no run, shortish lifting ball on off stump, jumps
on the crease to get over the top of it, chops it strongly down to
Vincent at point on the bounce
End of over 8 (2 runs) India 15/1 (RR: 1.88)
KD Mills 4-1-10-1 (2nb) - Port Hills End
SC Ganguly 4* (19b) VVS Laxman 1* (11b)
8.1 Tuffey to Ganguly, no run, Ganguly gets adventurous as India
struggle early on, advances down the track, backing well outside
leg stump, big swish and a miss, well done by the bounce and the
width, ugly stuff from the out-of-form captain
8.2 Tuffey to Ganguly, no run, shortish lifting ball on off stump,
strongly punched straight down to Vincent at point
8.3 Tuffey to Ganguly, no run, great ball! squares Ganguly around on
the crease, the line is perfect, just outside off stump and using
the natural angle away from the left-hander, Ganguly is having all
sorts of trouble here, in what are pretty good batting conditions
8.4 Tuffey to Ganguly, no run, full and straight, watchfully pushes it
up towards McMillan at mid on in defence
8.5 Tuffey to Ganguly, OUT: and it had to come, the bowling is just too
good and Ganguly is done by a sharp rising ball climbing just
outside off stump, inexplicably he just hangs the bat out there
away from his body, allows it to flick the edge straight through
to the
India 15/2, Partnership of 5
SC Ganguly c McCullum b Tuffey 4 (24b 0x4 0x6)
VVS Laxman 1* (11b) DR Tuffey 4.5-1-4-1
keeper McCullum and he's on his way for yet another failure on tour
Rahul Dravid the new batsman in, India off to a shocking start,
they desperately need some of his away-from-home magic
8.6 Tuffey to Dravid, wide: no run, full and fairly wide outside off
stump, seams further away as it's left well alone to the keeper,
signalled wide belatedly by umpire de Silva
8.6 Tuffey to Dravid, no run, shortish, straight ball, has Dravid
squared around on the crease, rapped high on the pad, drops at his
feet
End of over 9 (1 run) India 16/2 (RR: 1.78)
DR Tuffey 5-1-5-1 (1w) - Hadlee Stand End
VVS Laxman 1* (11b) R Dravid 0* (1b)
9.1 Mills to Laxman, no run, tight shortish ball on off stump, props
forward in defence, angling it away towards Vincent at point
9.2 Mills to Laxman, no run, shortish, straight ball, seaming back in,
keeps it out in defence, up towards Hitchcock at wide mid on
9.3 Mills to Laxman, no run, short ball with plenty of width outside
off stump, Laxman hops across towards it, playing well away from
his body still, but middles this one well, cutting straight to
Vincent at point
9.4 Mills to Laxman, no run, props forward in defence to a fuller,
straighter ball, easing it away towards Vincent once more
9.5 Mills to Laxman, no run, good fullish ball just outside off stump,
pushes forward tentatively in defence at it, getting an inside
edge into the front pad, rebounds away to cover
9.6 Mills to Laxman, no run, shorter, straight ball angling in, gets a
little leading edge as he awkwardly defends it from the body,
drops down in close on the off side, another maiden for Mills, the
third in the first 10 overs of the Indian innings
End of over 10 (maiden) India 16/2 (RR: 1.60)
KD Mills 5-2-10-1 (2nb) - Port Hills End
R Dravid 0* (1b) VVS Laxman 1* (17b)
10.1 Tuffey to Dravid, one run, shortish, straight ball, hops on the
crease, tucking it down to vacant square leg for an easy single to
get off the mark, Vettori fields from wide mid on
10.2 Tuffey to Laxman, one run, shortish lifting ball just outside off
stump, stands tall, punches it strongly from the back foot,
straight down the ground on the leg side, Vettori gives chase from
wider at mid on, fielding well to keep it to a single
10.3 Tuffey to Dravid, no run, shortish ball on off stump, hops on the
crease to defend down into the off side
10.4 Tuffey to Dravid, no run, similar again, tight line and length from
Tuffey, Mr Consistency so far today, as in the entire series,
forced to defend into the off side
10.5 Tuffey to Dravid, no run, beaten! fullish ball just moving away
marginally late, Dravid plays for more movement as is well done,
stifled appeal from behind the wicket
10.6 Tuffey to Dravid, no run, another fine short lifting ball outside
off stump, holds the bat more confidently inside the line, tucked
in to the pad, leaving to the keeper
End of over 11 (2 runs) India 18/2 (RR: 1.64)
DR Tuffey 6-1-7-1 (1w) - Hadlee Stand End
VVS Laxman 2* (18b) R Dravid 1* (6b)
Jacob Oram on to bowl for Mills at the Port Hills End
11.1 Oram to Laxman, no run, oooh! almost a wicket first ball, Laxman
slashes hard at it away from his body, big thick bottom edge
through to McCullum, huge appeal but umpire Cowie says not out,
very, very lucky is Laxman
11.2 Oram to Laxman, no run, good length ball seaming back in from just
outside off stump, shoulders arms and judges the bounce well, as
it rises over off stump through to the keeper
11.3 Oram to Laxman, no run, shortish lifting ball outside off stump,
leaves alone through to the keeper
11.4 Oram to Laxman, (noball) one run, oversteps, shortish ball on the
body, tucked away down towards Tuffey who fields well at long leg
11.4 Oram to Dravid, no run, shortish, straight ball, hops on the crease
to defend back on the leg side of the pitch
11.5 Oram to Dravid, no run, shortish rising ball outside off stump,
shoulders arms through to the keeper
11.6 Oram to Dravid, one run, short rising ball just outside off stump,
Dravid does well to get across to it and over the top of it,
steering it into the ground behind square, the bounce beating the
diving gully, down to Vettori at third man
End of over 12 (3 runs) India 21/2 (RR: 1.75)
JDP Oram 1-0-3-0 (1nb) - Port Hills End
R Dravid 2* (9b) VVS Laxman 3* (22b)
12.1 Tuffey to Dravid, no run, shortish, straight ball, hops across his
crease to get in behind it, defending firmly down to Vettori at
mid on
12.2 Tuffey to Dravid, two runs, shortish ball just angling into the
pads, well tucked away through vacant square leg for an easy
couple as Vettori has to chase from mid on
12.3 Tuffey to Dravid, no run, short rising ball outside off stump,
moving further away, hangs the bat back out of the way to leave to
the keeper
12.4 Tuffey to Dravid, no run, quicker and fuller outside off stump,
leans well forward but is happy to hang the bat back out of the
way to leave to the keeper
12.5 Tuffey to Dravid, no run, good length ball seaming back in sharply
from outside off stump, rapped high on the knee roll, loud shout
for lbw but umpire de Silva turns it down after a long look, a
good shout, very close, just some doubt over whether it was going
to miss leg perhaps
12.6 Tuffey to Dravid, no run, shortish ball on off stump, steers it off
the face down to the third of four slips on the bounce with soft
hands
End of over 13 (2 runs) India 23/2 (RR: 1.77)
DR Tuffey 7-1-9-1 (1w) - Hadlee Stand End
VVS Laxman 3* (22b) R Dravid 4* (15b)
13.1 Oram to Laxman, no run, shortish ball just outside off stump,
forced away from his body straight down to Vincent at point
13.2 Oram to Laxman, one run, shortish lifting straight ball, tucked off
the body down to Tuffey at long leg
13.3 Oram to Dravid, no run, digs in a shorter ball moving further away
outside off stump, Dravid cuts but misses by quite some margin,
through to the keeper
13.4 Oram to Dravid, no run, shortish lifting ball on off stump, steered
down off the face straight to McMillan in the gully
13.5 Oram to Dravid, no run, another great sharp rising ball from a back
of a length, swish and a miss, through to the keeper
13.6 Oram to Dravid, no run, shortish ball a bit wider outside off
stump, leaves alone through to the keeper
End of over 14 (1 run) India 24/2 (RR: 1.71)
JDP Oram 2-0-4-0 (1nb) - Port Hills End
VVS Laxman 4* (24b) R Dravid 4* (19b)
Paul Hitchcock on to bowl, replacing Tuffey after a wonderful spell
of 1-9 from 7 overs at the Hadlee Stand End
14.1 Hitchcock to Laxman, no run, shortish, straight ball, gets right in
behind it, firmly stroking it straight up to Vettori at mid on
14.2 Hitchcock to Laxman, no run, similar again, strongly driven,
straight up to Vettori at mid on
14.3 Hitchcock to Laxman, one run, strays to leg stump, turned away off
the pads down to Mills at fine leg
14.4 Hitchcock to Dravid, no run, tight shortish ball on off stump,
watchfully in behind it, dead bat defends it down at his feet
14.5 Hitchcock to Dravid, no run, similar again, Dravid across in behind
it, watchfully defending into the off side
14.6 Hitchcock to Dravid, no run, shorter, lifting ball just outside off
stump, chops it down into the gully on the bounce
End of over 15 (1 run) India 25/2 (RR: 1.67)
PA Hitchcock 1-0-1-0 - Hadlee Stand End
VVS Laxman 5* (27b) R Dravid 4* (22b)
just 25 runs in the first 15 overs, a woeful effort, one of the
worst by any team in recent years, if not ever!
15.1 Oram to Laxman, no run, shortish, straight ball on off stump,
defends down into the off side
15.2 Oram to Laxman, FOUR, shot! at last a second boundary, it's been a
long time coming, a beautiful wristy flick off the hip to a
shortish ball, in the air but safely away through backward square
leg
15.3 Oram to Laxman, no run, tight shortish ball on off stump, squared
around on the crease, defends down into the gully where McMillan
fields well
15.4 Oram to Laxman, no run, shortish lifting straight ball, tucks it
down towards midwicket in defence, Sinclair scoots in from wide
mid on, throwing down the stumps at the keeper's end, though there
was never any attempt at a run
15.5 Oram to Laxman, no run, beaten! good fuller ball just outside off
stump, Laxman drives and misses, done purely by a straight ball
15.6 Oram to Laxman, no run, good ball! fair length delivery just
outside off stump, seams back sharply, cutting Laxman in half,
taken down the leg side by McCullum
End of over 16 (4 runs) India 29/2 (RR: 1.81)
JDP Oram 3-0-8-0 (1nb) - Port Hills End
R Dravid 4* (22b) VVS Laxman 9* (33b 1x4)
16.1 Hitchcock to Dravid, no run, fullish, slower ball on off stump,
squirts it away towards point in defence
16.2 Hitchcock to Dravid, no run, similar again, leans forward, steering
it away towards point in defence
16.3 Hitchcock to Dravid, wide: no run, Hitchcock goes a little crazy,
digging in a very short ball, but very wild down the leg side,
miles wide of the batsman and concedes the free run for little
gain
16.3 Hitchcock to Dravid, no run, full and straight, firmly stroked
along the ground straight up to Vettori at mid on
16.4 Hitchcock to Dravid, no run, good ball! quicker and rising off a
good length just outside off stump, flinches at it, beaten through
to the keeper
16.5 Hitchcock to Dravid, wide: no run, short and heading down the leg
side, Dravid tries to swing it away but misses, through to the
keeper
16.5 Hitchcock to Dravid, no run, tight shortish ball on off stump,
props well in behind it, defending solidly down into the deck, up
towards Tuffey at mid off
16.6 Hitchcock to Dravid, two runs, shortish ball straying to leg stump,
neatly clipped away through backward square leg, Mills around from
long leg in the deep, fires to the bowler's end but can't prevent
an easy two
End of over 17 (4 runs) India 33/2 (RR: 1.94)
PA Hitchcock 2-0-5-0 (2w) - Hadlee Stand End
VVS Laxman 9* (33b 1x4) R Dravid 6* (28b)
time for a drinks break, India hardly need it, hasn't been a lot of
running between wickets so far!
Match State: Drinks
17.1 Oram to Laxman, no run, fuller, straight ball, firmly stroked along
the ground up towards wide mid wicket
17.2 Oram to Laxman, one run, shortish ball angling on leg stump,
glanced off the hip straight down to Hitchcock at fine leg
17.3 Oram to Dravid, no run, tight short ball on off stump, gets right
in behind it, solidly defending down to Vincent at point
17.4 Oram to Dravid, FOUR, slightly overpitched outside off stump and
Dravid is quick to pounce, driving wonderfully through straight
mid off, there's a fair chase for Mills but it's too well timed
17.5 Oram to Dravid, no run, shortish ball on off stump, hops on the
crease to defend down in close on the off side
17.6 Oram to Dravid, no run, shortish ball, a bit wide outside off
stump, goes for an expansive cut stroke but chops a bottom edge
into the turf, bounces away to point
End of over 18 (5 runs) India 38/2 (RR: 2.11)
JDP Oram 4-0-13-0 (1nb) - Port Hills End
VVS Laxman 10* (35b 1x4) R Dravid 10* (32b 1x4)
18.1 Hitchcock to Laxman, OUT: oh dear oh dear, another one bites the
dust, but perhaps Laxman can feel a bit hard done by this time,
tight fullish ball on off stump, pushes half forward at it,
through to the keeper, big appeal for caught behind, after a long,
long look,
India 38/3, Partnership of 23
VVS Laxman c McCullum b Hitchcock 10 (36b 1x4 0x6)
R Dravid 10* (32b 1x4) PA Hitchcock 2.1-0-5-1 (2w)
suddenly umpire de Silva raises the finger, and McCullum has his
third dismissal of the match, and his eighth in two games!
Mohammad Kaif the new batsman
18.2 Hitchcock to Kaif, no run, full and straight, firmly defends
straight back down the pitch to the bowler
18.3 Hitchcock to Kaif, one run, full on off stump, props forward,
smartly easing it in close on the off side for a quick single to
get off the mark
18.4 Hitchcock to Dravid, no run, shortish, straight ball, defends in
close on the leg side of the pitch
18.5 Hitchcock to Dravid, no run, fair length ball seaming back in from
outside off stump, struck on the knee roll, huge shout for lbw
particularly by the bowler, but this time the finger is kept
behind de Silva's back, good decision, probably just struck
outside the line
18.6 Hitchcock to Dravid, (noball) no run, oversteps, shortish ball on
off stump, firmly defended into the covers
18.6 Hitchcock to Dravid, no run, fair length ball on off stump,
strongly punched into the deck, played straight up to mid on
End of over 19 (2 runs) India 40/3 (RR: 2.11)
PA Hitchcock 3-0-7-1 (2w 1nb) - Hadlee Stand End
M Kaif 1* (2b) R Dravid 10* (36b 1x4)
19.1 Oram to Kaif, no run, straight ball just angling into the legs,
drops it away square on the leg side, Sinclair quickly scoots
across from midwicket to field
19.2 Oram to Kaif, no run, good length ball just outside off stump,
seams back in late but doesn't tempt a stroke from Kaif
whatsoever, shouldering arms as it just passes through wide of the
off stick to the keeper
19.3 Oram to Kaif, no run, tight fuller ball angling in on off stump,
squares around on the crease a little, squirting it away off the
face to backward point in defence where Vincent fields
19.4 Oram to Kaif, no run, full ball moving back in, almost through
Kaif's defences, squeezes it down into the deck, pops up in the
air in close on the off side
19.5 Oram to Kaif, no run, fullish ball outside off stump, pushes
forward in defence, easing it to cover
19.6 Oram to Kaif, no run, good back of a length ball just outside off
stump, Kaif plays inside the line of it, through to the keeper
End of over 20 (maiden) India 40/3 (RR: 2.00)
JDP Oram 5-1-13-0 (1nb) - Port Hills End
R Dravid 10* (36b 1x4) M Kaif 1* (8b)
20.1 Hitchcock to Dravid, no run, fullish ball moving away late outside
off stump, hangs the bat back out of the way to leave to the
keeper
20.2 Hitchcock to Dravid, no run, tight shortish ball on off stump,
steered away towards point in defence
20.3 Hitchcock to Dravid, FOUR, shot! Dravid plays one of the few
authoritative strokes of the day so far, too short and sits up
like a tennis ball bouncing, rocks back and pulls it imperiously
through vacant midwicket
20.4 Hitchcock to Dravid, one run, fair length ball outside off stump,
plays a savage cut this time, straight down to Oram at wide third
man
20.5 Hitchcock to Kaif, no run, fullish ball, rather wide outside off
stump, shoulders arms through to the keeper
20.6 Hitchcock to Kaif, FOUR, shot! too short outside off stump, Kaif
goes back and plays a slashing square cut through cover point, no
need to run for those, India's most productive over so far
End of over 21 (9 runs) India 49/3 (RR: 2.33)
PA Hitchcock 4-0-16-1 (2w 1nb) - Hadlee Stand End
R Dravid 15* (40b 2x4) M Kaif 5* (10b 1x4)
21.1 Oram to Dravid, legbye: three runs, shortish ball straying to leg
stump, glanced fine off the thigh pad, great diving save made by
Hitchcock racing around from fine leg to keep it inside the rope
to save a run, brings up India's 50 in a laboured 131 balls
21.2 Oram to Kaif, no run, lovely sharp short rising ball just outside
off stump, seams back in, flicks the body as it passes through to
the keeper as it beats Kaif, appeal for caught behind but doesn't
convince too many, including umpire Cowie
21.3 Oram to Kaif, no run, shortish ball outside off stump, leaves alone
through to the keeper
21.4 Oram to Kaif, FOUR, short rising ball outside off stump, Kaif
smartly uppercuts, purposely helping it on its way over the slips,
no chance for Vettori to stop that one from third man
21.5 Oram to Kaif, one run, full on off stump, squared around in
defence, squirts off the outside edge along the ground down to
Vettori at third man
21.6 Oram to Dravid, one run, shortish ball on the body, tucked down off
the hip towards square leg, tight quick single taken with the
shot, a good dive throw gets a direct hit at the keeper's end,
umpire de Silva needlessly goes to the third umpire, but Kaif had
almost reached the
End of over 22 (9 runs) India 58/3 (RR: 2.64)
JDP Oram 6-1-19-0 (1nb) - Port Hills End
R Dravid 16* (42b 2x4) M Kaif 10* (14b 2x4)
stumps by the time it hit! very easy decision for third umpire Tony
Hill
22.1 Hitchcock to Dravid, no run, tight shortish ball on off stump,
props forward in defence, easing it firmly away to Astle at point
22.2 Hitchcock to Dravid, no run, shortish ball outside off stump, hangs
the bat well back out of the way to leave to the keeper
22.3 Hitchcock to Dravid, no run, full outside off stump, props forward,
steering it away along the ground into the gully, sharp fielding
there prevents any run
22.4 Hitchcock to Dravid, no run, shortish lifting ball just outside off
stump, hops across to off stump, punches it into the deck,
bouncing away to Vincent in the covers
22.5 Hitchcock to Dravid, (noball) one run, oversteps, tight shortish
ball on off stump, chops it down into the deck at his feet,
excellent calling by Kaif to steal a quick single
22.5 Hitchcock to Kaif, FOUR, short rising ball just outside off stump,
pulls but gets a streaky thick top edge over the slips, Oram makes
great ground across from third man, but touches the rope as he
hauls it back in, third umpire gives the nod to signal four
22.6 Hitchcock to Kaif, no run, shortish ball on off stump, strongly
punched square on the off side, Astle does well to fall to his
right at point to cut it off
End of over 23 (6 runs) India 64/3 (RR: 2.78)
PA Hitchcock 5-0-22-1 (2w 2nb) - Hadlee Stand End
R Dravid 17* (47b 2x4) M Kaif 14* (16b 3x4)
Mills returns, replacing Oram at the Port Hills End
23.1 Mills to Dravid, no run, shortish ball outside off stump,
watchfully lets it go through to the keeper
23.2 Mills to Dravid, no run, shortish ball outside off stump, leaves
alone through to the keeper again
23.3 Mills to Dravid, no run, and yet again, much fuller and a bit
wider, leaves alone to the keeper as he leans well forward
23.4 Mills to Dravid, no run, wider still outside off stump, again happy
to leave it well alone to the keeper
23.5 Mills to Dravid, no run, very similar again outside off stump,
leaves well alone again through to the keeper
23.6 Mills to Dravid, one run, this time decides to make some contact,
steering a shortish ball off the face down to third man
End of over 24 (1 run) India 65/3 (RR: 2.71)
KD Mills 6-2-11-1 (2nb) - Port Hills End
R Dravid 18* (53b 2x4) M Kaif 14* (16b 3x4)
24.1 Hitchcock to Dravid, two runs, shortish ball just outside off
stump, pushes forward and runs it fine off the face, wide of slip,
Oram makes a tremendous amount of ground then a clean diving stop
inside the rope to save two runs at third man
24.2 Hitchcock to Dravid, no run, fullish ball on off stump, props
forward in defence, solidly playing it down into the covers
24.3 Hitchcock to Dravid, no run, fullish ball outside off stump,
powerfully drives into the deck, bounces up to Vincent who
athletically leaps to take it above his head in the covers, a
crowd 'catch'
24.4 Hitchcock to Dravid, no run, fair length ball outside off stump,
fends away from the body, guiding it down to Fleming at slip, well
fielded as Dravid looked for a run, shy at the stumps misses as he
gets back in time
24.5 Hitchcock to Dravid, no run, change up ball, full outside off
stump, strongly driven along the ground, but straight to Vincent
at cover
24.6 Hitchcock to Dravid, OUT: great catch by Vettori! short rising ball
on off stump, Dravid goes for the pull but it's a bit close to the
body, mistimes the shot, scooping it over Vettori's head at mid
on, but he manages to run back and take it high behind his head,
and
India 67/4, Partnership of 29
R Dravid c Vettori b Hitchcock 20 (59b 2x4 0x6)
End of over 25 (2 runs) India 67/4 (RR: 2.68)
PA Hitchcock 6-0-24-2 (2w 2nb) - Hadlee Stand End
M Kaif 14* (16b 3x4)
hold on to it as he falls back to the turf, fine catch, New
Zealand's fielding again proving to be top notch this series
Yuvraj Singh the new batsman, facing as they crossed during the
catch on the last ball of the over
25.1 Mills to Yuvraj Singh, one run, fair length ball angling away
outside off stump, pushes forward, running it off the outside edge
along the ground down to Hitchcock at third man to get off the
mark straight away
25.2 Mills to Kaif, wide: no run, shortish ball, angling away wider
outside off stump, too wide to begin with and duly signalled so by
umpire Cowie
25.2 Mills to Kaif, no run, good length ball just outside off stump,
shoulders arms to it, Mills anguishes as it passes through not far
wide of off stump, cutting back off the seam late
25.3 Mills to Kaif, one run, Mills strays to leg stump, easily worked
off the legs to vacant forward square leg for a simple single,
Tuffey forced into action from mid on
25.4 Mills to Yuvraj Singh, wide: no run, short and heading well down
the leg side to the left-handed batsman, left well alone to the
keeper
25.4 Mills to Yuvraj Singh, FOUR, streaky stuff by Yuvraj, full ball on
off stump, swung back late and the batsman drives, gets a thin
inside edge which beats leg stump and races to the fine boundary
25.5 Mills to Yuvraj Singh, no run, quicker ball pushed through,
straightens on Yuvraj, taking him high on the pad, optimistic
shout for lbw, outside the line of leg stump
25.6 Mills to Yuvraj Singh, no run, fullish ball on off stump, pushes
forward, firmly defending back on the off side of the pitch
End of over 26 (8 runs) India 75/4 (RR: 2.88)
KD Mills 7-2-19-1 (2w 2nb) - Port Hills End
M Kaif 15* (18b 3x4) Yuvraj Singh 5* (4b 1x4)
Tuffey returns, replacing Hitchcock at the Hadlee Stand End, still
no sign of 5th bowler Vettori as of yet, and we're into the 27th
over
26.1 Tuffey to Kaif, no run, fullish ball outside off stump, shoulders
arms through to the keeper
26.2 Tuffey to Kaif, no run, lovely back of a length ball rising and
seaming away outside off stump, Kaif does well to withdraw the bat
well inside the line early to leave to the keeper
26.3 Tuffey to Kaif, legbye: FOUR, shortish ball straying down the leg
side, deflected off the thigh pad rather fine, beats an acrobatic
dive by keeper McCullum, and also Mills down at fine leg
26.4 Tuffey to Kaif, no run, shortish ball outside off stump, shoulders
arms through to the keeper
26.5 Tuffey to Kaif, one run, shortish lifting ball on off stump, steers
it down off the face just past the diving Sinclair in the gully,
down to Oram at third man
26.6 Tuffey to Yuvraj Singh, no run, fullish ball straightening a little
outside off stump, Yuvraj props forward but tucks the bat behind
the front pad as he leaves to the keeper
End of over 27 (5 runs) India 80/4 (RR: 2.96)
DR Tuffey 8-1-10-1 (1w) - Hadlee Stand End
M Kaif 16* (23b 3x4) Yuvraj Singh 5* (5b 1x4)
Oram returns, replacing Mills after a short spell at the Port Hills
End, still no sign of Vettori
27.1 Oram to Kaif, one run, short climbing ball outside off stump, Kaif
drives uppishly at it, spearing a thick outside edge in the air,
well wide of the slips, down to Vettori at third man
27.2 Oram to Yuvraj Singh, no run, lovely ball! perfect line and length,
using the natural angle across the left-hander, very tight just
outside off stump, Yuvraj just manages to hang the bat inside the
line as it passes through to the keeper
27.3 Oram to Yuvraj Singh, one run, shortish, straight ball, dead bats
it down in close on the leg side, well played and run for a quick
single as it falls well short of the infield
27.4 Oram to Kaif, no run, fair length ball with some width outside off
stump, Kaif happy to shoulder arms, leaving alone to the keeper
27.5 Oram to Kaif, OUT: and another one goes, excellent line and length
once more, extra bounce and Kaif can't withdraw the bat from that
one, a little movement away and finds the outside edge, regulation
take for McCullum
India 82/5, Partnership of 15
M Kaif c McCullum b Oram 17 (26b 3x4 0x6)
Yuvraj Singh 6* (7b 1x4) JDP Oram 6.5-1-21-1 (1nb)
that's four catches today already, and nine in the last two games,
a prolific start in just his third game as specialist stumper,
India further in the mire
Sanjay Bangar the new batsman
27.6 Oram to Bangar, no run, full just outside off stump, pushes
forward, defending firmly into the off side
End of over 28 (2 runs) India 82/5 (RR: 2.93)
JDP Oram 7-1-21-1 (1nb) - Port Hills End
Yuvraj Singh 6* (7b 1x4) SB Bangar 0* (1b)
28.1 Tuffey to Yuvraj Singh, no run, full and a little wide, angling
away from the left-hander outside off stump, hangs the bat back
out of the way to leave to the keeper
28.2 Tuffey to Yuvraj Singh, no run, great delivery from Tuffey, beats
Yuvraj all ends up, rising off a back of a length on off stump,
squared right around on the crease and hopelessly defeated,
through to the keeper
28.3 Tuffey to Yuvraj Singh, no run, good short lifting ball a bit wider
outside off stump, just stays inside the line to leave to the
keeper
28.4 Tuffey to Yuvraj Singh, no run, full and relatively wide, angling
away outside off stump, raises the arms up high to leave to the
keeper
28.5 Tuffey to Yuvraj Singh, no run, shortish ball on off stump,
powerfully punched down into the covers, Vettori makes a good half
stop at extra cover, just doing enough to prevent thoughts of a
single
28.6 Tuffey to Yuvraj Singh, no run, cracker! on a perfect length,
sharply rising just outside off stump, Yuvraj flinches as he tries
to get out of the way of it, through to the keeper, a maiden
End of over 29 (maiden) India 82/5 (RR: 2.83)
DR Tuffey 9-2-10-1 (1w) - Hadlee Stand End
SB Bangar 0* (1b) Yuvraj Singh 6* (13b 1x4)
29.1 Oram to Bangar, no run, good length ball in the channel outside off
stump, shoulders arms through to the keeper
29.2 Oram to Bangar, no run, very similar again, a fraction fuller but
no more tempting for Bangar, thrusts the front pad forward and
shoulders arms to the keeper
29.3 Oram to Bangar, no run, props well forward to a good length ball,
seams back in slightly, taken on the pad, rebounds back on the leg
side of the pitch
29.4 Oram to Bangar, no run, short rising ball outside off stump, hangs
the bat well back out of the way to leave to the keeper
29.5 Oram to Bangar, one run, fullish ball straying to leg stump, turned
away off the legs just behind square on the leg side, easy single
avails itself as Hitchcock is up from fine leg to field
29.6 Oram to Yuvraj Singh, no run, short lifting straight ball, Yuvraj
shuffles about the crease, hopping to defend it down in close on
the leg side
End of over 30 (1 run) India 83/5 (RR: 2.77)
JDP Oram 8-1-22-1 (1nb) - Port Hills End
SB Bangar 1* (6b) Yuvraj Singh 6* (14b 1x4)
30.1 Tuffey to Bangar, no run, fullish ball outside off stump, thrusts
forward at it, gets a thick outside edge bouncing away into the
gully, very sharp fielding by McMillan there prevents it getting
through
30.2 Tuffey to Bangar, no run, fair length ball going straight through
outside off stump, leans forward but holds the bat well back out
of the way to leave to the keeper
30.3 Tuffey to Bangar, OUT: beautiful bowling! short lifting ball, just
seaming away outside off stump, Bangar pokes at it and gloves it
through to the keeper, that's five for McCullum!
India 83/6, Partnership of 1
SB Bangar c McCullum b Tuffey 1 (9b 0x4 0x6)
Yuvraj Singh 6* (14b 1x4) DR Tuffey 9.3-2-10-2 (1w)
McCullum equals his own New Zealand record set at Napier (also
shared with Adam Parore), and that's 10 dismissals in two games,
remarkable
Ajit Agarkar the new batsman
30.4 Tuffey to Agarkar, no run, short rising ball outside off stump,
shoulders arms through to the keeper
30.5 Tuffey to Agarkar, no run, tight shortish ball on off stump, steers
it down towards point in defence
30.6 Tuffey to Agarkar, one run, shortish ball outside off stump, steers
it off the face down to third man
End of over 31 (1 run) India 84/6 (RR: 2.71)
DR Tuffey 10-2-11-2 (1w) - Hadlee Stand End
AB Agarkar 1* (3b) Yuvraj Singh 6* (14b 1x4)
Tuffey ends his spell, conceding just 11 runs from 10 overs, superb
stuff, the 4th most economical bowling performance for New Zealand
in ODIs
Mills returns, replacing Oram after an equally short stint at the
Port Hills End
31.1 Mills to Agarkar, FOUR, shot! not a bad length ball, but Agarkar
got into position behind it early, plays a lovely drive through
cover off the back foot, plenty of open space out there
31.2 Mills to Agarkar, no run, shorter ball outside off stump, moving
away, leaves alone to the keeper
31.3 Mills to Agarkar, no run, shortish ball outside off stump, flashes
the bat at it, chopping it into the ground, bounces up to Sinclair
in the gully
31.4 Mills to Agarkar, no run, fullish ball just outside off stump,
props forward, defending stoutly to McMillan in the covers
31.5 Mills to Agarkar, no run, shortish ball outside off stump, gets
across to it, punching down to Vincent at point
31.6 Mills to Agarkar, no run, tight shortish ball on off stump, again
resolutely in behind it, quietly defending down to Vincent at
point
End of over 32 (4 runs) India 88/6 (RR: 2.75)
KD Mills 8-2-23-1 (2w 2nb) - Port Hills End
Yuvraj Singh 6* (14b 1x4) AB Agarkar 5* (9b 1x4)
poor old Daniel Vettori, can't get a bowl to help himself this
series, it's Nathan Astle on to bowl for Tuffey at the Hadlee
Stand End
32.1 Astle to Yuvraj Singh, wide: no run, quick, full ball down the leg
side, very smart piece of glovework by McCullum, but it's a wide
as per umpire de Silva
32.1 Astle to Yuvraj Singh, no run, full and straight, strongly drives
down the ground on the off side, Hitchcock does well, falling to
his right at mid on to field
32.2 Astle to Yuvraj Singh, no run, fullish ball on off stump, squared
around a little, gets a leading edge along the ground up to
Vettori at mid off
32.3 Astle to Yuvraj Singh, no run, fullish ball on off stump, props
forward, firmly defending into the covers where Vincent fields
32.4 Astle to Yuvraj Singh, no run, full outside off stump, strongly
drives away from his body, but straight up to Vettori at mid off
32.5 Astle to Yuvraj Singh, no run, shorter, wider ball outside off
stump, hangs the bat back out of the way to leave to the keeper
32.6 Astle to Yuvraj Singh, no run, full on off stump, props well
forward, strongly defending straight back to the bowler
End of over 33 (1 run) India 89/6 (RR: 2.70)
NJ Astle 1-0-1-0 (1w) - Hadlee Stand End
AB Agarkar 5* (9b 1x4) Yuvraj Singh 6* (20b 1x4)
time for the second drinks break in the innings, India is an awful
state here and it doesn't seem to be getting any better
the ball is still seaming a little, but really, not enough to see
them anything like 89/6 after 33 overs, the batsmen simply have no
confidence
Match State: Drinks
33.1 Mills to Agarkar, one run, short lifting ball outside off stump,
jumps on the crease, opening the face to guide it down to Vettori
at third man
33.2 Mills to Yuvraj Singh, no run, shortish ball outside off stump,
stands tall on the crease, strongly driving off the back foot
straight up to Tuffey at mid off
33.3 Mills to Yuvraj Singh, no run, good length ball outside off stump,
rising nicely, Yuvraj shoulders arms through to the keeper
33.4 Mills to Yuvraj Singh, no run, fuller, angling away across the
left-hander outside off stump, happy to leave alone to the keeper
again
33.5 Mills to Yuvraj Singh, no run, full and straight, reaches well
forward in defence, strongly playing it straight back to the
bowler
33.6 Mills to Yuvraj Singh, no run, good length ball on off stump,
Yuvraj has no room to free the arms but tires his best, punching
it strongly square of the wicket, but can't get it past Vincent
flopping to his left at point
End of over 34 (1 run) India 90/6 (RR: 2.65)
KD Mills 9-2-24-1 (2w 2nb) - Port Hills End
AB Agarkar 6* (10b 1x4) Yuvraj Singh 6* (25b 1x4)
34.1 Astle to Agarkar, OUT: and yet another one bites the dust, awful,
awful batting by India, good length ball just outside off stump,
drifting away, Agarkar goes for a wild slap over the top, but gets
under it too much, Hitchcock lines it up at wide mid off on the
India 90/7, Partnership of 7
AB Agarkar c Hitchcock b Astle 6 (11b 1x4 0x6)
Yuvraj Singh 6* (25b 1x4) NJ Astle 1.1-0-1-1 (1w)
circle edge and makes no mistake, India in serious danger of not
even batting out their overs now, even that wouldn't net them that
many runs at their present rate anyway
Zaheer Khan promoted ahead of Harbhajan to bat, perhaps looking to
play the defensive foil to Yuvraj to see them through their overs
now
34.2 Astle to Yuvraj Singh, no run, fullish, straight ball, solidly
defended down into the off side of the pitch
34.3 Astle to Yuvraj Singh, no run, fair length ball outside off stump,
strongly punched down into the covers to Vincent
34.4 Astle to Yuvraj Singh, no run, similar again to a straighter ball,
this time back down the track to Astle who sharply grabs it to his
right
34.5 Astle to Yuvraj Singh, two runs, fullish ball outside off stump,
drives through the line of it, lofting it just clear of Vettori
running back at mid off before it pitches in the deep
34.6 Astle to Yuvraj Singh, one run, boy oh boy, almost more disaster
for India, Yuvraj turned a straight ball fine off his legs,
looking for the second but in a mix-up Zaheer sends him back, is
sent sprawling back at the bowler's end as the relay from McCullum
comes
End of over 35 (3 runs) India 93/7 (RR: 2.66)
NJ Astle 2-0-4-1 (1w) - Hadlee Stand End
Yuvraj Singh 9* (30b 1x4) Z Khan 0* (0b)
but he has his gloves on and hooks the throw over Astle's head so
Yuvraj survives
35.1 Mills to Yuvraj Singh, one run, shortish ball, turned away square
on the leg side for an easy single
35.2 Mills to Khan, no run, sharp short rising ball outside off stump,
shapes to defend it before just holding the bat back inside the
line in time, through to the keeper
35.3 Mills to Khan, no run, fuller ball lifting off a length outside off
stump, weakly holds the bat inside the line to leave to the keeper
as he has a little look
35.4 Mills to Khan, no run, beaten! corker of a delivery from Mills,
full and angling in from wider on the crease in at off stump, just
misses the outer coat of varnish as it passes through to the
keeper
35.5 Mills to Khan, wide: no run, well, maybe Zaheer can't hang on
defensively after all, charges and has a wild slog, backing
outside leg ala Harbhajan, big swing and a miss, given wide by
umpire Cowie as it was fairly far away from him outside off stump
35.5 Mills to Khan, no run, good length ball outside off stump, has a
little dabble but misses, through to the keeper
35.6 Mills to Khan, no run, another lovely ball angling in from wider
outside off stump, plays and misses trying to defend, through to
the keeper
End of over 36 (2 runs) India 95/7 (RR: 2.64)
KD Mills 10-2-26-1 (3w 2nb) - Port Hills End
Yuvraj Singh 10* (31b 1x4) Z Khan 0* (5b)
Mills finishes his 10 overs, taking a very well earned spell with
1-26
36.1 Astle to Yuvraj Singh, no run, fullish ball drifting back on on a
line of off stump, props well forward, solidly defending to
Fleming at short cover
36.2 Astle to Yuvraj Singh, no run, oooh! extra effort ball from Astle,
rises sharply off the deck, Yuvraj flinches at it, beats the
glove, McCullum fumbles the take, a sharp one
36.3 Astle to Yuvraj Singh, no run, oooh! McCullum misses his chance at
a sixth victim, quick, full ball gets through Yuvraj's defences,
back leg is up and out of his crease, but McCullum fails to glove
it cleanly, stumps broken too late
36.4 Astle to Yuvraj Singh, one run, full outside off stump, drives at
it away from his body, minimal footwork, squirts a thick outside
edge along the ground down to Mills at third man
36.5 Astle to Khan, no run, beaten! lovely length ball just outside off
stump, Khan plays all around the crease, beats the outside edge
through to McCullum
36.6 Astle to Khan, no run, wider ball outside off stump, hangs the bat
back out of the way to leave to the keeper
End of over 37 (1 run) India 96/7 (RR: 2.59)
NJ Astle 3-0-5-1 (1w) - Hadlee Stand End
Yuvraj Singh 11* (35b 1x4) Z Khan 0* (7b)
Hitchcock returns, replacing Mills at the Port Hills End
37.1 Hitchcock to Yuvraj Singh, no run, fullish ball just outside off
stump, raises the arms up high, leaving alone through to the
keeper
37.2 Hitchcock to Yuvraj Singh, no run, nice ball, back of a length and
angling away from Yuvraj, has a sniff at it before jerking the
hands well back inside the line to leave to the keeper
37.3 Hitchcock to Yuvraj Singh, one run, slower, shorter ball drifting
down the leg side, helped on its way out towards deep backward
square leg
37.4 Hitchcock to Khan, two runs, fair length ball seaming back in on a
line of off stump, swung away flat in the air through wide
midwicket, a fair chase for Oram to overhaul from mid on, just
gets it inside the rope
37.5 Hitchcock to Khan, no run, slower, fullish ball, wider outside off
stump, cuts and misses, beaten by the pace, or lack thereof, taken
low down by McCullum
37.6 Hitchcock to Khan, wide: no run, a shocker from Hitchcock, a full
toss well wide down the leg side, Khan chases after it but misses,
through to the keeper
that brings up the Indian 100 off 232 balls, the second 50 taking
101 balls, not exactly much of an improvement on their terrible
start
37.6 Hitchcock to Khan, no run, beaten! quick, shorter, straight ball,
angles in to the right-hander, passes over the stumps through to
the keeper
End of over 38 (4 runs) India 100/7 (RR: 2.63)
PA Hitchcock 7-0-28-2 (3w 2nb) - Port Hills End
Yuvraj Singh 12* (38b 1x4) Z Khan 2* (10b)
38.1 Astle to Yuvraj Singh, no run, props half forward in defence to a
good length ball drifting away outside off stump, holds the bat
inside the line, leaving to the keeper, McCullum fumbles the take
as Astle gets a little excited briefly, but just withdrew the bat
in time
38.2 Astle to Yuvraj Singh, no run, shortish, straight ball, mistimes a
forcing shot back on the leg side of the pitch, bounces up to
Hitchcock at mid on
38.3 Astle to Yuvraj Singh, no run, fuller ball on the legs, firmly
turned away to Tuffey at midwicket
38.4 Astle to Yuvraj Singh, no run, full outside off stump, powerfully
driven from the crease, but straight to Vincent at extra cover
38.5 Astle to Yuvraj Singh, no run, shorter, straight ball, jabs it away
into the leg side, pops in the air but falls well short of Tuffey
at midwicket
38.6 Astle to Yuvraj Singh, no run, full on off stump, firmly eased
straight to Vincent at extra cover, a maiden
End of over 39 (maiden) India 100/7 (RR: 2.56)
NJ Astle 4-1-5-1 (1w) - Hadlee Stand End
Z Khan 2* (10b) Yuvraj Singh 12* (44b 1x4)
39.1 Hitchcock to Khan, no run, would you believe it! when it's going
your way, it really is, and when it's not, it's a stinker, Khan
plays a lovely strong straight drive back down the pitch from a
full ball, but Hitchcock gets a finger to it, and it goes straight
into the stumps at
the bowler's end, with Yuvraj standing well out of his crease,
absolutely stranded, and umpire Cowie doesn't need to check
upstairs for that one, he's out of there
India 100/8, Partnership of 10
Yuvraj Singh run out (Hitchcock) 12 (44b 1x4 0x6)
Harbhajan Singh the penultimate batsman to the crease
39.2 Hitchcock to Khan, no run, fullish ball, firmly driven from the
crease straight back to the bowler
39.3 Hitchcock to Khan, wide: no run, full and wide, well down the leg
side, chases after it but makes no contact, through to the keeper
39.3 Hitchcock to Khan, no run, quick shorter ball, fairly wide outside
off stump, has a dash, chasing after it, swing and a miss through
to the keeper
39.4 Hitchcock to Khan, one run, similar again, this time back cuts down
to Vettori at third man
39.5 Hitchcock to Harbhajan Singh, OUT: oh boy, if you thought it
couldn't get any worse ... well, it just has! the trap is set for
Harbhajan and he falls for it first ball, short and wide outside
off stump, gives himself room by backing away outside leg, slaps
at it, but doesn't
India 102/9, Partnership of 2
Harbhajan Singh c Vincent b Hitchcock 0 (1b 0x4 0x6)
Z Khan 3* (14b) PA Hitchcock 7.5-0-30-3 (4w 2nb)
get a lot of the middle of the bat on it, loops a catch up to
Vincent waiting at deepish point, easily taken
Javagal Srinath walks to the crease, India facing the ignominy of
'bettering' their lowest score against New Zealand in an ODI, one
that has stood for just two games
39.6 Hitchcock to Srinath, no run, attempted yorker first up, Srinath is
aware and jams the bat down on it, keeping it out, played back to
the bowler
End of over 40 (2 runs) India 102/9 (RR: 2.55)
PA Hitchcock 8-0-30-3 (4w 2nb) - Port Hills End
Z Khan 3* (14b) J Srinath 0* (1b)
40.1 Astle to Khan, no run, shortish, dead straight ball, defends from
the crease, easing it down to Vincent in the covers
40.2 Astle to Khan, FOUR, oooh! Khan takes his life into his own hands,
a wild heave at a full ball outside off stump, looks to swing it
over midwicket, gets a thick top edge, just through the hands of
Fleming leaping up at fly slip, and down to the boundary
40.3 Astle to Khan, one run, shortish, straight ball, gets in behind it,
punching it away to vacant wide midwicket, sub fielder Mason
across from squarer to field
40.4 Astle to Srinath, one run, full and straight, pushes it well down
the ground on the leg side, running a quick single as Vettori
scoots up from deepish mid on to field
40.5 Astle to Khan, no run, tight ball on off stump, props well forward,
defending down to Sinclair at point
40.6 Astle to Khan, no run, shorter ball on off stump, stands tall in
behind it, firmly playing it straight down to short cover
End of over 41 (6 runs) India 108/9 (RR: 2.63)
NJ Astle 5-1-11-1 (1w) - Hadlee Stand End
J Srinath 1* (2b) Z Khan 8* (19b 1x4)
Oram returns at the Port Hills End, replacing Hitchcock
41.1 Oram to Srinath, OUT: and it's all over, Srinath edges a good
length ball on off stump, straight to Fleming at first slip, a
regulation take and India are humbled for 108 for the second time
in the series
India 108/10, Partnership of 6
J Srinath c Fleming b Oram 1 (3b 0x4 0x6)
Z Khan 8* (19b 1x4) JDP Oram 8.1-1-22-2 (1nb)
a woeful effort, dismissed with 8.5 overs unbowled, New Zealand
will be happy as they are dismissed just a tick past 5pm, meaning
they won't have to come back to bat for a few overs before dinner
is taken
extras end up being the top scorer on 22, ahead of Dravid's
battling 20, which speaks volumes in itself about India's woeful
effort today
the pitch certainly provided some assistance, even through to the
halfway mark in the innings, and every now and then, a little
movement later on, but then that had just as much to do with a
great seam-up bowling display as any supposed terrors in the
wicket, and while New Zealand's batsmen haven't exactly been in
glorious form themselves, it would be unlikely to see them
struggle to chase this target like they did in Auckland, when the
conditions were much more bowler-friendly
India will have to pull out a miraculous effort to even get close
today, and it is hard to see that happening with a team who have
lost their last 4 games in a row to New Zealand and showing very
little outward signs of confidence
the dinner break has been extended by the 30 minutes that New
Zealand saved by bowling India out so quickly, so it'll last the
best part of 75 minutes - that's a resumption time of 6:15pm local
time (0515 GMT)
please join us then for the chase in just over an hour's time when
New Zealand come out to knock off the 109 runs required at a rate
of 2.18 per over
any comments about today's coverage so far can be sent to
comms@cricinfo.com - all feedback is greatly appreciated
Match State: Innings Break
the players return to the field, and it'll be Javagal Srinath to
open the bowling from the Hadlee Stand End, bowling to Stephen
Fleming with Nathan Astle at the non-striker's end
three slips, gully, third man, point, extra cover, mid on, square
leg and fine leg in place
0.1 Srinath to Fleming, no run, good start from Srinath, odd one from
Fleming, short lifting straight ball, shoulders arms and ends up
copping it on the body, rebounds into the off side
0.2 Srinath to Fleming, no run, fuller, straighter ball, shuffles
across his crease, tucking it down in close on the off side in
defence
0.3 Srinath to Fleming, one run, Fleming and New Zealand off the mark
streakily, good fullish ball on off stump, props forward in
uncertain defence, chops a little inside edge just past his stumps
into space for a quick single
0.4 Srinath to Astle, no run, good shortish straight ball seaming back
in, has Astle hopping on the crease, taken high on the pad, drops
down towards gully
0.5 Srinath to Astle, no run, fuller, widish ball outside off stump,
stretches well forward, shouldering arms through to the keeper
0.6 Srinath to Astle, no run, shortish lifting ball just outside off
stump, seams back in, raises the arms up high, happy to let it
pass just wide of off stump through to the keeper
End of over 1 (1 run) New Zealand 1/0 (RR: 1.00 RRR: 108/49 = 2.20)
J Srinath 1-0-1-0 - Hadlee Stand End
SP Fleming 1* (3b) NJ Astle 0* (3b)
Zaheer Khan to open the bowling from the Port Hills End
1.1 Khan to Fleming, wide: no run, fullish ball swinging away wide
outside off stump and moving wider, left alone to keeper to pick
up the free run
1.1 Khan to Fleming, no run, good length rising ball outside off stump,
Fleming stands tall but holds the bat well inside the line, too
wide to require any thought of a stroke
1.2 Khan to Fleming, no run, similar again, Khan gets gradually
straighter, but still not quite enough to require a stroke, left
to the keeper
1.3 Khan to Fleming, no run, just as he was almost finding his line, he
bowls the next delivery wider, and again Fleming doesn't bother to
play a stroke
1.4 Khan to Fleming, no run, full outside off stump and swinging away a
little late, leans well forward, but is once more happy to raise
the arms up high and let it pass untouched through to keeper
Dravid
1.5 Khan to Fleming, no run, good length straighter ball angling in on
off stump, Fleming leaves alone based more on the bounce this
time, passing just high and wide of off stump, through to the
keeper
1.6 Khan to Fleming, no run, full and straight, gets right in behind
it, defending stoutly up towards mid on, gets an ironic cheer from
the crowd for deciding to use his bat this time
End of over 2 (1 run) New Zealand 2/0 (RR: 1.00 RRR: 107/48 = 2.23)
Z Khan 1-0-1-0 (1w) - Port Hills End
NJ Astle 0* (3b) SP Fleming 1* (9b)
2.1 Srinath to Astle, one run, good ball from Srinath but reaps no
reward, climbing off an awkwardly length just a fraction outside
off stump, Astle pushes half forward at it, getting a thick
outside edge flying wide of the slips, down to third man to get
off the mark
2.2 Srinath to Fleming, one run, dropped! a hard chance, but a chance
nonetheless, and when you're defending 108, you need to pluck
miracles out of the air, Ganguly fails to do so this time, a good
length ball sees a thick edge fly hard and at a good height to his
left at third slip,
goes through his hands and down to third man for a single
2.3 Srinath to Astle, FOUR, shot! short-arm jab from Astle, short ball
sits up on off stump, pulls it powerfully through vacant midwicket
2.4 Srinath to Astle, no run, oooh! huge appeal for caught behind and
the entire Indian team go up, but umpire de Silva says no, and a
good call it is too, good length rising ball just outside off
stump, Astle's bat brushes the front pad flap, creating the noise,
but is well beaten
through to the keeper, most of the field are extremely disappoint
and stand around for a few moments, the crowd giving them a bit of
a razz for doing so
2.5 Srinath to Astle, no run, fair length ball on off stump, defends
firmly up on the leg side of the pitch
2.6 Srinath to Astle, legbye: one run, props forward in defence to
another similar straight ball, taken high on the pad which brings
a hopeful shout led by the bowler, umpire de Silva again says no,
rebounds away to short midwicket and they sneak through for a
quick run
End of over 3 (7 runs) New Zealand 9/0 (RR: 3.00 RRR: 100/47 = 2.13)
J Srinath 2-0-7-0 - Hadlee Stand End
NJ Astle 5* (8b 1x4) SP Fleming 2* (10b)
3.1 Khan to Astle, legbye: one run, full and swinging into the pads,
angling down the leg side, another optimistic shout for lbw by the
bowler, as another quick leg bye is taken, after some initial
hesitation from Astle, pitched outside leg, struck outside leg,
swinging further down
leg - one of the more 'out there' appeals, albeit a brief one
3.2 Khan to Fleming, no run, quicker, short rising ball outside off
stump, just goes away from Fleming a little, invites a big slash
and a miss, as the batsman fails to get over the top of it,
through to keeper Dravid
3.3 Khan to Fleming, no run, full and a little wide outside off stump,
leans forward, leaving alone through to the keeper
3.4 Khan to Fleming, no run, good length ball veering back into the
left-hander's legs, squared around in defence, watchfully playing
it up to Agarkar at mid on
3.5 Khan to Fleming, no run, digs it in a little shorter outside off
stump, shoulders arms through to the keeper, awful fumble by
Dravid for a regulation take, moving too far as it came through to
him, very sloppy keeping
one has to feel for Dravid, he has enough of a burden as a batsman
abroad as it is, he's clearly struggling to put consistent
performances in with the gloves, in a relatively new art for him
to master
3.6 Khan to Fleming, no run, fullish, straight ball, firmly stroked up
towards mid on in defence
End of over 4 (1 run, maiden) New Zealand 10/0 (RR: 2.50 RRR: 99/46 = 2.15)
Z Khan 2-1-1-0 (1w) - Port Hills End
NJ Astle 5* (9b 1x4) SP Fleming 2* (15b)
4.1 Srinath to Astle, FOUR, thwack! Astle has been enjoying his home
ground of late, playing a rather typical shot of his, the charge
down the track and smack it on the up over mid off's head, rockets
to the boundary to get the crowd going
4.2 Srinath to Astle, FOUR, and again! this time plays a more
Sehwagesque slash over the point, advanced down the wicket just
like the ball before, it seamed back in from a back of a length,
was rather tight on him but still had the power to easily clear
the infield
4.3 Srinath to Astle, FOUR, and four more! dances down the track
*again* and it's a bit fuller, hits more easily on the up over mid
off's head, a stronger hit than the previous two
4.4 Srinath to Astle, FOUR, four in a row! very smart cricket, has
Srinath rattled, sits back and waits for the shorter ball, and
pulls him through vacant midwicket, cracking stuff, crowd is
electrified now
4.5 Srinath to Astle, two runs, shorter ball angling down the leg side,
tries to pull it away but only gets a bit of glove on it, but
sufficiently enough to get it wide of Dravid, Khan runs around
from from fine leg to just tip it back inside the rope and they
settle for two
4.6 Srinath to Astle, FOUR, amazing over! Astle finishes it off in
style, charges and smacks a half volley along the ground through
extra cover, 22 off the over, crowd clap and chant in rhythm,
great atmosphere now
End of over 5 (22 runs) New Zealand 32/0 (RR: 6.40 RRR: 77/45 = 1.71)
J Srinath 3-0-29-0 - Hadlee Stand End
SP Fleming 2* (15b) NJ Astle 27* (15b 6x4)
5.1 Khan to Fleming, no run, haha! good length ball outside off stump,
Fleming leans forward and shoulders arms, and the crowd give him a
bit of a hurry up! they want to see more of the Astle-type
approach!
5.2 Khan to Fleming, no run, shortish ball angling in on off stump,
gets in behind it, solidly defending straight back to the bowler,
crowd give another one of their famed ironic cheers, for Fleming
middling it
5.3 Khan to Fleming, no run, shortish, quicker ball, seaming back in
sharply, tucks Fleming right up, cops it on the body as he jumps
into it, drops down in close on the leg side
5.4 Khan to Fleming, legbye: one run, full and slanting down the leg
side, turns it down towards Harbhajan at fine leg from the pad,
crowd naturally cheer as their local hero gets back on strike
5.5 Khan to Astle, no run, good ball! that keeps the chanting crowd a
bit quiet, back of a length and straightening on middle stump,
extra bounce tucks Astle up like Fleming before him, and he too
cops it on the body, ball drops at his feet
5.6 Khan to Astle, no run, fullish, straight ball, props forward,
firmly defending straight back down the pitch to the bowler
End of over 6 (1 run, maiden) New Zealand 33/0 (RR: 5.50 RRR: 76/44 = 1.73)
Z Khan 3-2-1-0 (1w) - Port Hills End
SP Fleming 2* (19b) NJ Astle 27* (17b 6x4)
Ajit Agarkar comes on to bowl, after Srinath is struck out of the
attack by Astle, at the Hadlee Stand End
6.1 Agarkar to Fleming, no run, comes well forward to a good fullish
ball swinging back in, struck high on the pad and brings a loud
shout for lbw mainly from the bowler, but he was well forward and
probably struck outside the line
6.2 Agarkar to Fleming, no run, tight good length straight ball,
watchfully defends by squeezing it out up to Srinath at mid on
6.3 Agarkar to Fleming, wide: no run, quick short rising ball swinging
very dramatically and late but down the leg side, Fleming can't
catch up to it, but to Dravid's credit, he does very well to
snatch it with his right glove
6.3 Agarkar to Fleming, no run, tight ball on off stump, watchfully
taps it down in close on the off side in defence
6.4 Agarkar to Fleming, no run, fullish ball outside off stump, leans
well forward into it, crisply driving but straight to cover
in the meantime the crowd entertain themselves with dual Mexican
waves, going in opposite directions around the ground, it would
seem the spectators have different tactics for cricket-watching
depending on who is on strike
6.5 Agarkar to Fleming, no run, good length ball seaming back in, taken
high on the pad, drops down in close on the leg side
6.6 Agarkar to Fleming, two runs, shortish ball straying to the leg
side, well turned off the hip through backward square leg, long
leg around in the deep to field inside the rope
End of over 7 (3 runs) New Zealand 36/0 (RR: 5.14 RRR: 73/43 = 1.70)
AB Agarkar 1-0-3-0 (1w) - Hadlee Stand End
NJ Astle 27* (17b 6x4) SP Fleming 4* (25b)
7.1 Khan to Astle, one run, shortish ball straying on leg stump, helps
it on its way around the corner, glanced down to Srinath at fine
leg
7.2 Khan to Fleming, no run, Khan digs in the short one, a genuine
bouncer, just gets away with the height of it, that's his one for
the over, Fleming ducks underneath, left through to the keeper
7.3 Khan to Fleming, no run, good ball! rather similar to many seen
during the Indian innings, rising off an awkward length and just
straightening enough before leaving Fleming late outside off
stump, sticks the bat out to it but is fortunate not to get a
touch
7.4 Khan to Fleming, OUT: Fleming's attempts to play himself into form
don't work today, very similar ball to the last but the key
difference is the line, a touch straighter, compulses Fleming to
fend it off, deflecting a thick edge straight to Kaif at third
slip
New Zealand 37/1, Partnership of 37
SP Fleming c Kaif b Khan 4 (28b 0x4 0x6)
NJ Astle 28* (18b 6x4) Z Khan 3.4-2-2-1 (1w)
Mathew Sinclair the new batsman
7.5 Khan to Sinclair, no run, fullish ball angling rather wide outside
off stump, shoulders arms through to the keeper
7.6 Khan to Sinclair, no run, good ball! Khan bowls with some menace, a
sharp lifting ball cutting back to take him high on the leg, has
him in some discomfort, rebounds away into the midwicket region
End of over 8 (1 run) New Zealand 37/1 (RR: 4.62 RRR: 72/42 = 1.71)
Z Khan 4-2-2-1 (1w) - Port Hills End
NJ Astle 28* (18b 6x4) MS Sinclair 0* (2b)
8.1 Agarkar to Astle, no run, short and fairly wide outside off stump,
swinging further away, Astle chases after it, big slash and miss
through to the keeper
8.2 Agarkar to Astle, wide: no run, exactly the same again, but this
time a fraction wider and umpire de Silva has to stretch out the
arms as such
8.2 Agarkar to Astle, one run, shortish, straight ball, hops on the
crease to tuck it off his pads forward of Harbhajan at square leg
for an easy single
8.3 Agarkar to Sinclair, no run, fullish ball swinging away wide
outside off stump, shoulders arms through to the keeper
8.4 Agarkar to Sinclair, OUT: got him! fullish ball angling into the
legs, it doesn't arrive as Sinclair quite expects and he ends up
playing inside out, scooping it back to the bowler low down, well
taken by Agarkar and that's two ducks in two ODIs for Sinclair on
the
New Zealand 39/2, Partnership of 2
MS Sinclair c & b Agarkar 0 (4b 0x4 0x6)
NJ Astle 29* (20b 6x4) AB Agarkar 1.4-0-5-1 (2w)
turf of Jade Stadium, India just wedge the door about one
millimetre ajar, but still need to find a sledgehammer to get them
back into this contest
Craig McMillan the new batsman
8.5 Agarkar to McMillan, no run, fullish ball swinging away outside off
stump, shoulders arms through to the keeper
8.6 Agarkar to McMillan, no run, tight shortish ball on off stump, hops
in behind it, watchfully defending back to the bowler
End of over 9 (2 runs) New Zealand 39/2 (RR: 4.33 RRR: 70/41 = 1.71)
AB Agarkar 2-0-5-1 (2w) - Hadlee Stand End
NJ Astle 29* (20b 6x4) CD McMillan 0* (2b)
9.1 Khan to Astle, no run, quick rising ball angling wider outside off
stump, Astle chases after it, and once again fails to make contact
9.2 Khan to Astle, no run, oooh! big shout for lbw from Khan is turned
down as Astle is defeated by a good full ball, pitches on leg
stump and strikes him in front, umpire Cowie suggests it was just
angling further away, tight call
9.3 Khan to Astle, one run, oh boy! Astle rides his luck again, good
length ball angling away outside off stump, drives at it, getting
a streaky inside edge past his stumps, down to Srinath at fine leg
9.4 Khan to McMillan, no run, tight shortish ball lifting and
straightening on off stump, hops on the crease, defending with a
dead bat down at his toes
9.5 Khan to McMillan, no run, good sharp delivery straightening on
McMillan, who again plays awkwardly, taken high on the pad as it
angles down leg, rebounding away into the off side
9.6 Khan to McMillan, no run, shortish ball takes McMillan high on the
leg as he attempts to play no stroke but gets tangled up, ball
drops into the flap and McMillan has to 'knee' it out to dislodge
it, in the meanwhile Khan appeals briefly for lbw to no luck
End of over 10 (1 run) New Zealand 40/2 (RR: 4.00 RRR: 69/40 = 1.73)
Z Khan 5-2-3-1 (1w) - Port Hills End
NJ Astle 30* (23b 6x4) CD McMillan 0* (5b)
10.1 Agarkar to Astle, no run, good tight shortish ball on off stump,
watchfully defends from the crease, squeezing it out into the
covers
10.2 Agarkar to Astle, no run, Astle misses yet another shortish lifting
ball with some width outside off stump, swinging further away
through to the keeper
10.3 Agarkar to Astle, one run, shortish lifting straight ball, Astle
does well to squeeze it out from his midriff and take a sharp
single as it's placed towards vacant midwicket, Harbhajan has to
dart across from square leg to field
10.4 Agarkar to McMillan, no run, good lifting ball just outside off
stump, McMillan withdraws the bat well inside the line to leave it
to the keeper
10.5 Agarkar to McMillan, wide: no run, full and very wide, and moving
even wider outside off stump, hangs the bat well back out of the
road, collecting the free run as Dravid dives low down to his
right to glove it
10.5 Agarkar to McMillan, no run, full ball just outside off stump,
pushes forward at it, firmly nudging it towards cover point,
Yuvraj is quickly into action to prevent any thoughts of a cheeky
single
10.6 Agarkar to McMillan, no run, good length ball just outside off
stump, squeezes it away towards point in defence once more
End of over 11 (2 runs) New Zealand 42/2 (RR: 3.82 RRR: 67/39 = 1.72)
AB Agarkar 3-0-7-1 (3w) - Hadlee Stand End
NJ Astle 31* (26b 6x4) CD McMillan 0* (8b)
11.1 Khan to Astle, legbye: one run, fullish ball swinging down the leg
side, taken on the pad and it drops quietly just behind square on
the leg side, easy single avails itself as Agarkar has to field
from square leg
11.2 Khan to McMillan, no run, digs it in short, rising sharply down the
leg side, McMillan plays inside it, trying to swing it away behind
square but misses, through to the keeper
11.3 Khan to McMillan, wide: no run, Khan tries it again, but delivers
it much wider down the leg side, left well alone to collect the
free run
now a short leg is brought in for McMillan on strike, a good tactic
to try out by Ganguly, it'll be Bangar who gets the duties
11.3 Khan to McMillan, legbye: one run, oh boy, shortish ball angling on
leg stump, again McMillan shuffles across inside it, brushes the
back of the leg through to the keeper, Dravid grasses an awkward
take, umpire Cowie belatedly signals leg bye, McMillan's hopes of
getting off the mark
are delayed for a while longer
11.4 Khan to Astle, one run, tight shortish ball on off stump, squeezes
it forcefully up the ground on the off side, through straight mid
off for an easy single, wide mid off chases after it to the circle
edge, doing well to prevent thoughts of a second
11.5 Khan to McMillan, legbye: one run, full and well down the leg side,
glances it off the pad along the ground down to Srinath at fine
leg
11.6 Khan to Astle, no run, bouncer! very short and Astle ducks well
underneath it, through to the keeper
End of over 12 (5 runs) New Zealand 47/2 (RR: 3.92 RRR: 62/38 = 1.63)
Z Khan 6-2-5-1 (2w) - Port Hills End
CD McMillan 0* (11b) NJ Astle 32* (29b 6x4)
Srinath returns, replacing Agarkar at the Hadlee Stand End
12.1 Srinath to McMillan, no run, short rising ball outside off stump,
shoulders arms through to the keeper
12.2 Srinath to McMillan, no run, tight shortish ball angling in on off
stump, nudges it down in close square on the off side, sets off
for a quick single which is not on, so quickly scoots back
12.3 Srinath to McMillan, no run, fuller ball outside off stump, good
length to probe at McMillan with, but this time he doesn't bite,
withdrawing the bat well back inside the line in time to leave to
the keeper
12.4 Srinath to McMillan, three runs, McMillan tries to charge his way
out of trouble, advancing down the track, turns it into a half
volley, powerfully lofting it over mid off, more of a nine iron
shot though, it pitches in the outfield and comes to a halt, not
well timed, a bludgeoning
shot, but does enough to get off the dreaded nought, and bring up
New Zealand's 50 in 77 balls
12.5 Srinath to Astle, OUT: Astle tries the same, advancing down the
wicket to a fullish ball, gets a lot of wood on it, but skies it
more than he'd like, Ganguly lines it up shakily at mid off on the
circle edge, and manages to hold on to it, very relieved to take
it he is too, swirled a long time in the air
New Zealand 50/3, Partnership of 11
NJ Astle c Ganguly b Srinath 32 (30b 6x4 0x6)
CD McMillan 3* (15b) J Srinath 3.5-0-32-1
Srinath has a few words for Astle as the batsman walks off, Astle
glances back and seems to join in the exchange, Srinath may have
had the last laugh, but the damage has already been done by Astle
New Zealand not doing the chase in the most convincing fashion, but
still a little short of panic stations just yet
Lou Vincent the new batsman
12.6 Srinath to McMillan, no run, shortish ball outside off stump,
shoulders arms through to the keeper
End of over 13 (3 runs) New Zealand 50/3 (RR: 3.85 RRR: 59/37 = 1.59)
J Srinath 4-0-32-1 - Hadlee Stand End
L Vincent 0* (0b) CD McMillan 3* (16b)
13.1 Khan to Vincent, three runs, off the mark straight away,
overpitched outside off stump, firmly driven into the ground,
beating the somewhat early dive by Yuvraj to his left at cover,
has to get up and chase as the ball pulls up well inside the rope
13.2 Khan to McMillan, no run, fullish, straight ball, gets right in
behind it, firmly defending straight up to wide mid on where
Ganguly fields
13.3 Khan to McMillan, FOUR, shot! McMillan discovers a little touch of
class at last, coming inside the line of a ball down the leg side,
wristily clipping it away through square leg
13.4 Khan to McMillan, FOUR, shot! overpitched outside off stump,
McMillan plays a cracking cover drive, sloppy fielding by one of
India's better ones in the infield, Kaif, whose dive across to it
is ineffective, and has to go collect it from beyond the rope
13.5 Khan to McMillan, one run, fullish ball outside off stump, chops it
down in close on the off side, smart running by Vincent to call
McMillan through for the quick run
13.6 Khan to Vincent, one run, similar again, this time it's McMillan
reciprocating, chopping a full ball down in very close on the off
side, scoots through for a somewhat tighter single quite safely in
the end
End of over 14 (13 runs) New Zealand 63/3 (RR: 4.50 RRR: 46/36 = 1.28)
Z Khan 7-2-18-1 (2w) - Port Hills End
L Vincent 4* (2b) CD McMillan 12* (20b 2x4)
13 off the over restarts the chase in earnest after an awkward
period with wickets steadily tumbling
14.1 Srinath to Vincent, no run, short lifting ball angling back in from
outside off stump, raises the arms up very high to leave alone to
the keeper
14.2 Srinath to Vincent, wide: no run, short ball which strays well wide
down the leg side, leaves alone through to the keeper
14.2 Srinath to Vincent, no run, beaten! good length straight ball
outside off stump, comes back through the gate as Vincent pushes
forward at it, huge appeal for caught behind but umpire de Silva
will have nothing of it, clearly missed the bat, deflecting off
the pad through to Dravid
14.3 Srinath to Vincent, no run, fullish ball just outside off stump,
props forward, solidly defending up towards Ganguly at mid off
14.4 Srinath to Vincent, no run, wider shortish lifting ball outside off
stump, shoulders arms through to the keeper
14.5 Srinath to Vincent, one run, good length ball outside off stump,
Vincent thrusts forward at it in defence, deflects a big thick
edge wide of the slips, down to third man, gets a bit over-eager
in charging halfway back for a second while McMillan doesn't look,
but no worries about
getting back to the bowler's end before danger can strike
14.6 Srinath to McMillan, no run, shortish ball outside off stump,
shoulders arms through to the keeper
End of over 15 (2 runs) New Zealand 65/3 (RR: 4.33 RRR: 44/35 = 1.26)
J Srinath 5-0-34-1 (1w) - Hadlee Stand End
L Vincent 5* (7b) CD McMillan 12* (21b 2x4)
time for a drinks break, probably the last one of the day as New
Zealand need just a further 44 runs to take an imposing 3-0 lead
in the seven-match series
Match State: Drinks
Sanjay Bangar on to bowl, replacing Khan at the Port Hills End
after a fine 7-over spell
15.1 Bangar to Vincent, one run, shortish ball angling on the legs,
easily turned away towards backward square leg for a quick single
as Agarkar's across to his right to field
the official attendance has been announced at a reasonable total of
16,115
15.2 Bangar to McMillan, no run, full and fairly wide outside off stump,
swinging further away, shoulders arms through to the keeper
15.3 Bangar to McMillan, one run, tight shortish ball on off stump, dabs
it down in close on the off side, again very sharp running by
Vincent to call through for the single before Kaif can get in from
cover to field it
15.4 Bangar to Vincent, no run, fullish ball angling away outside off
stump, shoulders arms to leave to the keeper
15.5 Bangar to Vincent, one run, fullish, straight ball, leans on it to
turn it away wide of Ganguly at mid on for another simple single
15.6 Bangar to McMillan, FOUR, shot! full on the legs, McMillan picks it
up with ease over midwicket, races away to the boundary, McMillan
steadily increasing in confidence
End of over 16 (7 runs) New Zealand 72/3 (RR: 4.50 RRR: 37/34 = 1.09)
SB Bangar 1-0-7-0 - Port Hills End
L Vincent 7* (10b) CD McMillan 17* (24b 3x4)
Agarkar returns, replacing Srinath at the Hadlee Stand End
16.1 Agarkar to Vincent, no run, fullish ball swinging into the pads,
tries to clip it away through midwicket but misses, rebounds off
the pad down to Harbhajan at square leg
16.2 Agarkar to Vincent, no run, similar delivery, but this time gets
the middle of the bat on it, turned straight to Harbhajan at
square leg
16.3 Agarkar to Vincent, two runs, fullish ball outside off stump,
strongly drives through cover, mistimed it somewhat but has enough
gusto to get three-quarters of the way to the boundary before
being overhauled by two men
16.4 Agarkar to Vincent, no run, fullish ball outside off stump, pushes
forward in defence, firmly playing up to mid off
16.5 Agarkar to Vincent, no run, good length fullish ball swinging away
outside off stump, Vincent has a dabble at it, beaten through to
the keeper
16.6 Agarkar to Vincent, one run, full on off stump, squeezes it up
towards extra cover for a quick single, finding the gap well as
Ganguly has to move to his left from mid off
End of over 17 (3 runs) New Zealand 75/3 (RR: 4.41 RRR: 34/33 = 1.03)
AB Agarkar 4-0-10-1 (3w) - Hadlee Stand End
L Vincent 10* (16b) CD McMillan 17* (24b 3x4)
Ganguly continues to change his bowlers constantly, with Srinath
returning again, but this time at the Port Hills End in place of
Bangar
17.1 Srinath to Vincent, no run, shortish ball on off stump, defends
firmly from the crease, playing straight down to Kaif in the
covers
17.2 Srinath to Vincent, no run, short lifting ball just outside off
stump, stands tall to get over the top of it, tapping it down on
the leg side of the pitch, they briefly look for a quick run but
Srinath is sharply on to it, preventing the run
17.3 Srinath to Vincent, one run, full and straying down the leg side,
helped on its way down to Agarkar at fine leg, they look for a
quick second but it's not on
17.4 Srinath to McMillan, one run, shorter ball angling on leg stump,
turned off the legs down towards Agarkar once more
17.5 Srinath to Vincent, FOUR, shot! not a bad length ball but Vincent
strikes it at the top of its bounce, punching it into the turf,
down through cover point, and with the rather attacking field
employed by Ganguly (no other option but to, of course), means
there's no cover
sweeper to stop that one going all the way
17.6 Srinath to Vincent, no run, fair length ball moving away outside
off stump, happy to let it go untouched through to the keeper
End of over 18 (6 runs) New Zealand 81/3 (RR: 4.50 RRR: 28/32 = 0.88)
J Srinath 6-0-40-1 (1w) - Port Hills End
CD McMillan 18* (25b 3x4) L Vincent 15* (21b 1x4)
just another 28 runs required, and all of 32 overs in which to get
them, it's a cakewalk now for the home side, and a rather
unexpected 3-0 series lead awaits
18.1 Agarkar to McMillan, no run, short rising ball outside off stump,
McMillan sways the head back out of the way to let it pass through
to keeper Dravid
18.2 Agarkar to McMillan, no run, McMillan dangerously thrusts the front
pad out to a fullish ball cutting back in off the seam from
outside off stump, loud shout for lbw turned down by umpire de
Silva, was not coming back in enough
18.3 Agarkar to McMillan, no run, rather full and straight, strongly
driven along the carpet but straight to Khan at mid on
18.4 Agarkar to McMillan, no run, bouncer! angling on leg stump,
McMillan ducks well underneath it to let it pass to the keeper,
Agarkar gets the signal that that's his one allowed for the over
18.5 Agarkar to McMillan, no run, good length rising ball just outside
off stump, shapes away late, McMillan elects to raise the arms up
high, leaving to the keeper
18.6 Agarkar to McMillan, no run, fuller and wider outside off stump,
the end result is the same, left alone to the keeper, a maiden for
Agarkar
End of over 19 (maiden) New Zealand 81/3 (RR: 4.26 RRR: 28/31 = 0.90)
AB Agarkar 5-1-10-1 (3w) - Hadlee Stand End
L Vincent 15* (21b 1x4) CD McMillan 18* (31b 3x4)
19.1 Srinath to Vincent, no run, fair length, wide ball outside off
stump, Vincent tries to slap it through the covers by getting over
the top of it, but plays and misses, through to the keeper
19.2 Srinath to Vincent, no run, Srinath keeps hanging out the washing
on the line well outside off stump, tempting Vincent again, this
one's a little fuller, the batsman more wisely chooses to let it
go through to the keeper, though
19.3 Srinath to Vincent, no run, beaten! lovely ball, good length and
cutting back in off the seam, through the gap between bat and
body, over the stumps through to the keeper
19.4 Srinath to Vincent, no run, oh dear, Vincent tries the Astle
tactic, charging down the track, but it doesn't work, Srinath just
holds on to it on a short enough length to prevent him being able
to get to it, swing and a miss through to the keeper
19.5 Srinath to Vincent, no run, shortish ball outside off stump, seams
back slightly a little late, but never enough to threaten as
Vincent leaves to the keeper
19.6 Srinath to Vincent, wide: no run, short and wide, angling down the
leg side, Vincent fails to catch up with it, through to the diving
Dravid to his left
19.6 Srinath to Vincent, no run, full outside off stump, shoulders arms
through to the keeper, almost two maidens in a row but for the
wide
End of over 20 (1 run) New Zealand 82/3 (RR: 4.10 RRR: 27/30 = 0.90)
J Srinath 7-0-41-1 (2w) - Port Hills End
CD McMillan 18* (31b 3x4) L Vincent 15* (27b 1x4)
20.1 Agarkar to McMillan, no run, fair length ball shaping away outside
off stump, McMillan has a little look before whipping the bat well
back out of the road to leave to the keeper
20.2 Agarkar to McMillan, one run, shortish ball on off stump, deflects
it off the face down through the gully, both batsmen stop and
start, hesitating mid-pitch as they await the outcome of Yuvraj's
dive for it at backward point, but he misses and they're safe,
down to third man
a brief moment of concern as Yuvraj remains sprawled on the ground,
holding his wrist it seems, but he gets up shortly after
20.3 Agarkar to Vincent, no run, good ball! full and just a fraction
outside off stump, Vincent drives at it, playing and missing, and
it only just misses off stump as it goes through to the keeper
20.4 Agarkar to Vincent, no run, full outside off stump, props well
forward, strongly defending straight to Kaif at cover
20.5 Agarkar to Vincent, OUT: oh boy! full and straight, comes back in
to the front pad, big shout for lbw, umpire de Silva has a good
long look, in the meanwhile Vincent is out of his crease looking
for a run before scrambling back as the ball pops away to point,
but
New Zealand 83/4, Partnership of 33
L Vincent lbw b Agarkar 15 (30b 1x4 0x6)
CD McMillan 19* (33b 3x4) AB Agarkar 5.5-1-11-2 (3w)
suddenly right at the end of it all, he turns around and looks to
see the finger raised, not a bad decision, was fairly much in
line, only doubt would be whether it was doing too much and miss
leg stump
Brendon McCullum the new batsman
20.6 Agarkar to McCullum, no run, full on off stump, leans forward,
strongly easing it up to wide mid off in defence
End of over 21 (1 run) New Zealand 83/4 (RR: 3.95 RRR: 26/29 = 0.90)
AB Agarkar 6-1-11-2 (3w) - Hadlee Stand End
CD McMillan 19* (33b 3x4) BB McCullum 0* (1b)
21.1 Srinath to McMillan, one run, shortish ball outside off stump,
deflects it off the face down to Khan at third man
21.2 Srinath to McCullum, no run, back of length ball angling in from
outside off stump, McCullum has a wild slash at it, cutting and
missing, through to the keeper
21.3 Srinath to McCullum, no run, beaten! lovely bowling by Srinath, on
that nagging length and angling in to the right-hander, McCullum
fences at it just a little away from the body, committed to reach
for it, beaten through to the keeper
21.4 Srinath to McCullum, wide: no run, short ball swinging away down
the leg side, McCullum tries to pull it away powerfully but misses
out, through to the keeper
21.4 Srinath to McCullum, one run, dropped! a tough chance, but a chance
nonetheless, full ball outside off stump, plays a slashing square
drive but doesn't keep it down, Yuvraj acrobatically leaps up,
soccer goalkeeper-style, palms it down to save the goal, but
unfortunately needed to
hold on to that one in two hands to see the back of another NZ
batsman, spectacular nonetheless!
21.5 Srinath to McMillan, no run, quicker ball seaming back in, taken
high on the pad, Srinath appeals loudly on his own for lbw, umpire
Cowie is disinterested
21.6 Srinath to McMillan, no run, shortish, straight ball, tucked off
the body towards midwicket
End of over 22 (3 runs) New Zealand 86/4 (RR: 3.91 RRR: 23/28 = 0.82)
J Srinath 8-0-44-1 (3w) - Port Hills End
BB McCullum 1* (4b) CD McMillan 20* (36b 3x4)
22.1 Agarkar to McCullum, no run, McCullum decides the charge is a good
ploy, just like Astle, McMillan and Vincent before him, and like
most of his predecessors, it doesn't exactly come off, big swing
and a miss to a fullish ball swinging further away outside off
stump
22.2 Agarkar to McCullum, no run, similar delivery, but more wisely
elects to leave it alone through to the keeper
22.3 Agarkar to McCullum, no run, full outside off stump, leans well
forward, shouldering arms through to the keeper
22.4 Agarkar to McCullum, one run, fullish ball outside off stump,
steers it away along the ground down to Bangar at third man
22.5 Agarkar to McMillan, no run, shortish lifting ball outside off
stump, leaves it alone through to the keeper
22.6 Agarkar to McMillan, (noball) no run, oversteps, fullish ball
outside off stump, leaves alone through to the keeper
22.6 Agarkar to McMillan, no run, short rising ball outside off stump,
lifts the arms up rather high to let it go through to the keeper
End of over 23 (2 runs) New Zealand 88/4 (RR: 3.83 RRR: 21/27 = 0.78)
AB Agarkar 7-1-13-2 (3w 1nb) - Hadlee Stand End
BB McCullum 2* (8b) CD McMillan 20* (39b 3x4)
Khan returns, replacing Srinath at the Port Hills End
23.1 Khan to McCullum, no run, tight shortish ball on off stump, gets in
behind it, firmly defending down towards cover point
23.2 Khan to McCullum, one run, shortish lifting ball on off stump,
jumps on the crease to play it down into the turf in close on the
off side, McMillan smartly calls him through for a sharp single,
but not before making him run the wide track, having to go right
off his line and
around McMillan charging through for the run, but it's completely
quite comfortably
23.3 Khan to McMillan, no run, fullish, straight ball, props forward,
defending down in close on the leg side, they look for another
quick run but it's not available
23.4 Khan to McMillan, no run, very full and angling away outside off
stump, McMillan steps across to drive it, but plays too late,
playing and missing, through to the keeper
23.5 Khan to McMillan, two runs, full and straight, chipped away through
midwicket for a very rarely-sighted two runs, in recent overs, at
least
23.6 Khan to McMillan, no run, bouncer! good sharp short rising ball on
off stump, McMillan ducks down and sways his head back out of the
way to let it pass through to the keeper
End of over 24 (3 runs) New Zealand 91/4 (RR: 3.79 RRR: 18/26 = 0.69)
Z Khan 8-2-21-1 (2w) - Port Hills End
BB McCullum 3* (10b) CD McMillan 22* (43b 3x4)
24.1 Agarkar to McCullum, one run, shortish ball on off stump, chops it
down to third man for an easy single
the chase is meandering along now, just 17 to get, but the last
dozen or so runs have been extremely laboured in coming
24.2 Agarkar to McMillan, no run, full outside off stump, stretches
forward before leaving alone to the keeper
24.3 Agarkar to McMillan, OUT: and another one goes! New Zealand trying
their best to make this a more difficult target than it really is,
full outside off stump and McMillan firmly scoops it straight to
Kaif at cover for an easy catch
New Zealand 92/5, Partnership of 9
CD McMillan c Kaif b Agarkar 22 (45b 3x4 0x6)
BB McCullum 4* (11b) AB Agarkar 7.3-1-14-3 (3w 1nb)
still 17 to get and now just 5 wickets in hand, not quite yet the
time for jitters, but if another wicket was to quickly fall, we
might yet still manufacture an interesting finish
Jacob Oram the new batsman
24.4 Agarkar to Oram, no run, fullish ball swinging back into the pads,
stifled shout for lbw from behind the wicket, but was striking him
well down the leg side, gets in a tangle as the ball falls at his
feet
24.5 Agarkar to Oram, one run, full outside off stump, drives firmly
into the deck, back past the bowler for a quick single as Srinath
darts across to his left at mid off to field
24.6 Agarkar to McCullum, three runs, jumps down the track to turn it
into a half volley, strongly punches it through wide midwicket,
McCullum scampers back comfortably for the third as Srinath
finally overhauls it from mid on
End of over 25 (5 runs) New Zealand 96/5 (RR: 3.84 RRR: 13/25 = 0.52)
AB Agarkar 8-1-18-3 (3w 1nb) - Hadlee Stand End
BB McCullum 7* (12b) JDP Oram 1* (2b)
25.1 Khan to McCullum, two runs, short ball angling into the body,
pulled in the air over backward square leg, doesn't time it well
but sufficiently clears the infield for a couple more, down to 11
needed now
25.2 Khan to McCullum, one run, full and straight, pushes forward at it,
squirting an inside edge away towards midwicket, quick single
taken with the shot, throw at the bowler's end hits McCullum
running through
25.3 Khan to Oram, no run, fullish ball outside off stump, steers it
along the ground to Yuvraj in the gully
25.4 Khan to Oram, wide: no run, short rising ball, rather wide outside
off stump, leaves it well alone through to the keeper, signalled
wide to bring up the New Zealand 100 off 154 balls
25.4 Khan to Oram, one run, short lifting straight ball, fends it away
safely to vacant square leg for an easy run, big gap in that area
of the infield, Ganguly has to field all the way across from mid
on
25.5 Khan to McCullum, no run, fullish ball angling across the right-
hander outside off stump, leaves alone to the keeper
25.6 Khan to McCullum, no run, full ball outside off stump, thrusts the
front pad out to it, appeal for lbw from Khan but it wasn't
straightening anywhere near enough, he was a long way forward
End of over 26 (5 runs) New Zealand 101/5 (RR: 3.88 RRR: 8/24 = 0.33)
Z Khan 9-2-26-1 (3w) - Port Hills End
JDP Oram 2* (4b) BB McCullum 10* (16b)
26.1 Agarkar to Oram, no run, tight shortish ball on off stump, defends
solidly from the crease, playing back down the pitch to the bowler
26.2 Agarkar to Oram, FOUR, shot! overpitched on the toes, wristily
turned away through square leg, beats the diving Harbhajan, races
along the carpet to the boundary, just one more of those required
to finish this one off now
26.3 Agarkar to Oram, no run, and he tries to improvise by playing in a
similar area, but it was too straight, trying to whip it across
the line from off stump, misses and is taken high on the leg,
drops down in close on the off side
Agarkar switches to come around the wicket to the left-hander as
the crowd starts to get back some of its enthusiasm after a long
period of slow run-scoring, chanting in anticipation with 4 runs
required
26.4 Agarkar to Oram, no run, fullish ball outside off stump, drives
strongly into the pitch, straight back to the bowler
26.5 Agarkar to Oram, FOUR, and there it is, short rising ball angling
in from outside off stump, a bit nasty, Oram fends it away, but in
doing so steers it down wide of the slips, and too fast and fine
for third man to cut off, and New Zealand are victors by 5 wickets
with a
whopping 23.1 overs to spare, to take an imposing 3-0 lead in this
National Bank One-Day International Series - meaning India have
the rather difficult task of winning 4 in a row to take the series
from here
though New Zealand didn't quite finish it off in the style they
might have liked, the end result is nonetheless a rather
commanding performance, never letting the foot off the throat of
the Indians in the field
the pace bowling trio of Tuffey, Mills and Oram giving very little
away with impeccable line and length (and bounce) bowling on these
home surfaces
Hitchcock ended up with the best return statistically, though he
was perhaps the weakest of the bowlers today, benefiting from one
poor umpiring decision for his first wicket, and wayward
strokeplay thereafter
Astle's cameo knock at the beginning of the chase helped New
Zealand avoid a nervous reply like that in Auckland, though none
of the batsmen looked entirely convincing as they knocked off the
runs - still plenty of work to be done!
the bowlers toiled manfully, but can't realistically be expected to
defend such totals every match, but credit to Srinath (though
expensive in the end, thanks to that explosive 22-run over off the
blade of Astle), Khan and Agarkar for continuing to plug
away until the very end, when it could've been so much easier to
just give up on the game at the halfway point and look ahead to
the future
now that it is out of the way, that is precisely what India must
do, even if it is not to win the series now (though of course, the
slim possibility always remains), but to get their batsmen moving
their feet, finding confidence at the crease, and
working out their best combinations ahead of the World Cup looming
ever-closer in South Africa next month
the New Zealanders too are looking towards the World Cup, but in
the short term are looking only to 10am tomorrow, when the final
15 are named for the tournament, and in particular, the all-
rounders will the most nervous ones
competition is fierce, while some players will consider themselves
fortunate to be there - some likely to be picked on experience
rather than form, and expect some changes for the side picked for
the remaining matches in the series, based on tomorrow's
naming
Daryl Tuffey is named Man of the Match for his fine economical
performance, taking 2-11 from his 10 overs today, in sparkling
form with the ball this series
from here it's onwards to Queenstown for the fourth match, it's a
day game, starting at 12pm local time (2300 GMT) on Saturday the
4th, please join us then on CricInfo for full live ball-by-ball
coverage
until then, it's goodbye from a dusky Jade Stadium in Christchurch,
we hope you've enjoyed today's coverage (even if many of you won't
have particularly enjoyed the final result!)
any comments about today's coverage can be sent to
comms@cricinfo.com - all feedback received is greatly appreciated