***Official*** New Zealand in Zimbabwe & Zimbabwe/New Zealand/India ODI Tri-Series

[Loony BoB]

Styris stumped on 37. Sehwag gets his third wicket.

 

[Jono]

Dhoni gets a stumping too

Sounded a bit silly for Styris to dance down the wicket at this stage, but NZ have plenty of batting to come. Hopefully McMillan will do something stupid too.

 

[meatspx]

I personally would have used the spinners during the powerplay.

Alternatively the powerplay could have been used in the last 5 overs.
NZ are going to get their on run-rate, India needs wickets. The only way India is going to win is if it bowls out NZ, using the powerplay at the end when a few wickets are needed would have been the best option.
Of course that would require India taking wickets (which they won't) and their pacers bowling well at the end (which they won't); but when you have been pasted around the park and are in the dirt risks need to be taken.

 

[Loony BoB]

Something wrong with Vincent?

 

[Sanz]

Batsmen to bat - Oram, Cairns, Mcmillan, McCullum, Vincent with Astle still in the middle. I am still optimistic though. Let's see If Bhajji & Co. can still turn it around,

 

[_Ed_]

Hopefully McMillan will do something stupid too.

Always possible with Craig.

 

[_Ed_]

Something wrong with Vincent?

Would have expected him to have batted by now, wouldn't you? I guess they're going for the fast scorers for some reason?

 

[Neil Pickup]

I personally would have used the spinners during the powerplay.

Alternatively the powerplay could have been used in the last 5 overs.
NZ are going to get their on run-rate, India needs wickets. The only way India is going to win is if it bowls out NZ, using the powerplay at the end when a few wickets are needed would have been the best option.
Of course that would require India taking wickets (which they won't) and their pacers bowling well at the end (which they won't); but when you have been pasted around the park and are in the dirt risks need to be taken.

That I doubt. If the power play was used during overs 45-50, you'd have great big gaps in the outfield for Cairns, Oram and McCullum to aim into. Result = carnage.

Incidentally, am I the only one who thinks it may well be worth bowling Sehwag and Yuvraj for their full tens? The seamers have bowled 17 between them, so you'd only need 3 more, and the slow guys are both stifling the runrate and taking wickets. Can Kaif bowl?

 

[Retox]

Would have expected him to have batted by now, wouldn't you? I guess they're going for the fast scorers for some reason?

I think the idea is to give the hitters someone who can get the singles (Marshall should bat at 5 for ODIs 3 for tests)

 

[Neil Pickup]

driven towards long-on where Ashish Nehra fails to bend down in time

Anyone watching care to elaborate?

 

[Loony BoB]

Would have expected him to have batted by now, wouldn't you? I guess they're going for the fast scorers for some reason?

I'm not really sure that makes any difference. Vincent, Macca, Styris, Fleming, Astle AND McCullum are all fast scorers. If anything, they should have left out Marshall.

 

[Jono]

Anyone watching care to elaborate?

I am unfortunately not watching but that came at a horrible time. India were keeping it tight for a few overs and then that happens.

 

[Loony BoB]

Required rate just crept above the run rate for the first time.

3 overs of Harbhajan left, 2 of Sehwag and 6 of Yuvraj... 14 overs overall. That means 3 more overs of pace bowling. I'm guessing those will be the final three overs.

EDIT: 200/3, 36.1 overs. Astle on 75* (99) and Macca on 10* (9). Hoping for an Astle century.

 

[Jono]

If India can get Astle out the game would get very interesting indeed.

 

[Loony BoB]

Macca out. Vincent in now, maybe? If not, I'd be seriously questioning his fitness.

 

[meatspx]

I am unfortunately not watching but that came at a horrible time. India were keeping it tight for a few overs and then that happens.

Yeah I saw that.
Man that was terrible.
Seemed like he rushed himself too much, w/o reason.

I couldn't help but burst out in laughter too

Styris hit a ball to his right to at long-on, he didn't reach it but Bondy/Mills for NZ would have got there.

 

[Neil Pickup]

As it stands, I think those three (or more, never know with Saurav) overs of pace may prove the killer for India. Really good fightback as it stands. I still quite fancy giving the ball to Kaif for a couple after Viru bowls out - his domestic stats are okay - and he can't go for much more than the seamers, can he!

 

[Loony BoB]

69 runs needed from 73 balls.

Vincent, Astle, Cairns, Oram, McCullum, Vettori, Mills.

If India do win this, it will be an absolutely amazing feat.

Sehwag bowled out now. 10-0-44-3... nice figures, hats off to 'im!

 

[_Ed_]

Really good innings from Astle, may reach his 15th ODI century. How many of his good innings have come in successful run chases? He really has been good at that.

 

[_Ed_]

Looked it up, here are Astle's stats in ODIs NZ have won:

Mat Runs HS BatAv 100 50
80 3712 145* 53.79 12 23

And of those, in games NZ has won batting 2nd, he's scored 1760 @ 51.76.