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TVS Cup: India v New Zealand

Friday, November 7 2003

The TVS Cup has taken an interesting turn, as New Zealand proved that they definitely are not down and not out. New Zealand defeating India by 4 wickets on a slow Cuttack wicket.

India won the toss and elected to bat, with some fragility in their lineup. With Ganguly, Sehwag, Kumble and Nehra missing, it was upto the likes of Badani, Kartik and Bahatule to fill the void. From the black caps' point of view, Chris Cairns was out and was replaced by Kyle Mills.

Tendulkar and Laxman got things off to a sizzling start, but the sizzle simply fizzled as controversial and often irrational Indian umpire, AV Jayaprakash gave Tendulkar lbw to Kyle Mills for 14. The ball, clearly travelling down the leg side was a successful one for Mills.

Laxman and Mohammad Kaif consolidated with some neat dabs and stylish strokeplay. Laxman (31) who had been playing stylishly was dismissed as he returned a simple catch to the bowler, Scott Styris. Indian Captain, Rahul Dravid came to the crease and along with Kaif again built a solid 50 run partnership.

Kaif reached another half century in crisis, as he looked to convert his half century into a bigger score. Dravid however couldn't stay for long with Kaif as he too was out for 31 driving on the up on the on side only to be caught by Scott Styris off Daniel Vettori's bowling.

Hemang Badani, making a comeback to the national side blazed away using a mixture of powerful hits and neat dabs to open his account. However Kaif departed for 64, being bowled by the deceptive pace of Scott Styris. Styris picked up Bahatule for 13 as India now were struggling to post a competitive score on the board.

India's main hope, Hemang Badani perished to Tuffey for 42 and Agarkar (7) and Harbhajan (5) fell cheaply to give Tuffey a well deserved three wicket haul. However it was fireworks from Zaheer Khan in the last over which swung the match back into India's favor.

The powerfully built tailender dispatched Jacob Oram for 20 runs in the last over with his combination of boundaries and sixes. Zaheer finished with 33 of 13 balls and guided India to a competitive score of 246/9.

Stephen Fleming and Chris Nevin got things underway for the black caps as they hunted down the target of 246 on a slow wicket. Fleming blazed away into the 20's while Nevin was more sedate of the two. Fleming's luck however ran out as he was trapped infront by Ajit Agarkar for 24.

Chris Harris didn't last for long, as he was lbw to Zaheer for a paltry 0. Another out of form batsman, Lou Vincent fell to Zaheer for 1 and New Zealand were clearly struggling with the slowness and nature of the wicket.

Harbhajan dismissed opener, Chris Nevin for 29 and with two new batsmen at the crease, things were looking in India's favour. However it was that influential man with the ball, Scott Styris and the inform Craig McMillan who launched into the Indian bowlers and dispatched anything that was of a bad length.

Both batsman registered their half centuries and guided New Zealand home to a memorable 4 wicket victory. In the face of adversity, the two proved why they are so valuable to this New Zealand side. Styris with 68 and McMillan with a valuable 82 not out overcame the target in the 48th over.


Brief Score Summary:

India: 9/246 (Kaif 64, Badani 42, Zaheer 33*, Tuffey 3/31, Styris 3/38)

New Zealand: 6/249 (McMillan 82*, Styris 68, Zaheer 2/49, Kartik 1/34, Agarkar 1/41)

New Zealand won by 4 wickets

Cricket Web Player of the Match: Scott Styris (NZ)





Posted by Sangrah