India vs New Zealand 2nd Test, Day 1: Taylor slams ton, Kiwis 328/6

August 31, 2012
Kiwis

New Zealand(First innings) Score: 328/6 (Over: 81.3)

It’s official, the play has been called off for the day due to inclement weather as New Zealand end on 328/6 on the first day of the second Test on Friday.

New Zealand(First innings) Score: 328/6 (Over: 81.3)

With over half-an-hour of play still remaining, the umpires have halted the proceedings due to bad light. Kruger van Wyk (63*) and Doug Bracewell (30*) are the two not out batsmen for New Zealand.

New Zealand(First innings) Score: 324/6 (Over: 81)

Van Wayk and Bracewell have kept the run rate above four an over. The duo has added 78 runs for the seventh wicket so far. The Indians have taken the new ball. Umesh Yadav in action. Will he provide the breakthrough? or will the Kiwis continue the march?

New Zealand(First innings) Score: 304/6 (Over: 75)

Van Wyk has reached his first ODI fifty in quick time off 60 deliveries. He is facing absolutely no problem in facing the spinners now. He pounced on every opportunity to score, playing to his strength scoring whenever width has been offered.

New Zealand(First innings) Score: 287/6 (Over: 70)

Kruger van Wyk is dealing in boundaries now! The wicketkeeper-batsman has upped the ante and has hit two fours in Ashwin’s last over. This shows how good the pitch is for batting. The Indian batsmen must be licking their willows.

New Zealand(First innings) Score: 246/6 (Over: 63.1)

Plumb in front! That’s how Ross Taylor’s superb innings of 113 (127b, 4X16, 6X2) came to an end after he attempted a sweep off Pragyan Ojha. Umpire Ian Gould did take his time to raise the finger possibly pondering over the possibility of an inside edge. Doug Bracewell is the new batsman. Ojha has now four wickets to his name in the innings so far. Can he get his third five-wciket haul?

Dhoni will now look to wrap up the tail as soon as possible.

TEA New Zealand(First innings) Score: 240/5 (Over: 59)

Quiet a productive second session for New Zealand comes to an end. They dominated the majority of it while the Indians came back with the wickets of Daniel Flynn and James Franklin. The highlight, though, was Ross Taylor’s third Test century against the hosts.

New Zealand(First innings) Score: 222/5 (Over: 53.1)

7th TEST CENTURY for ROSS TAYLOR! He gets to the milestone with a boundary towards third man region. It has been a bold knock from the under pressure captain who has been aggressive in this innings.

He hasn’t shied away from going over the top as he did a ball later he reached his ton dispatching Ojha for a six over long on. It seemed he was being overaggressive at the start but managed to stay away from any danger.

Though, he could have missed a deserving ton after surviving a certain run out while attempting a second run off an overthrow an over before.

New Zealand(First innings) Score: 215/5 (Over: 51.4)

A fine diving catch by Suresh Raina to dismiss James Franklin as the lefty hits a full toss from Pragyan Ojha to midwicket. Must be disappointed! He departs after scoring 8 (35b, 4X1). In walks at Kruger van Wyk.

New Zealand(First innings) Score: 200/4 (Over: 47)

The pace with which Ross Taylor was scoring runs, he had a chance of breaking the fastest century in India which is jointly held by Kapil Dev and Mohammad Azharuddin (74b). The record is safe for now as he is on 94 (84b).

New Zealand(First innings) Score: Score: 196/4 (Over: 42.2)

And R. Ashwin gives India the breakthrough they were searching for amid the merrymaking that the Black Caps were making in the middle! Daniel Flynn went for a sweep after Ashwin tossed one up but the lefty missed the shot to be given lbw. He goes after scoring 33 (53b, 4X6).

The partnership for the fourth wicket lasted for 18.5 overs in which the visitors added 107 runs at the RR of 5.68. James Franklin is the new man in.

New Zealand(First innings) Score: 187/3 (Over: 40)

Runs are flowing thick and fast for the Kiwis! Daniel Flynn was quiet in the beginning of his inning but has now joined his skipper in sending the ball every now and then beyond the fence. It has been a positive intent and approach from the New Zealand batsmen. The current pair is scoring over 5 an over.

New Zealand(First innings) Score: 141/3 (Over: 33)

Ross Taylor has decided that attack is the best form of defence. He has been aggressive from the word go and has continued with the philosophy right through his innings so far. He has completed his 17th Test fifty in no time with a boundary through extra cover. He has so far hit 8 boundaries and a six. He has been particularly harsh on Ojha whose 12th over saw him hitting four boundaries to third man, fine leg and through covers. The captain has taken charge of the ship it seems!

Earlier, Ojha needed the attention of the physio after the spinner hurt his right arm while sliding to save a boundary in Zaheer’s 11th over.

LUNCH New Zealand(First innings) Score: 108/3 (Over: 29)

After losing Brendon McCullum for a duck, New Zealand seemed to recover as Zaheer Khan dismissed him his first over via lbw. The second wicket pair of Williamson and Guptill added 63 as the latter confidently kept finding boundaries. He went on to score a fifty but only after being handed a life as Kohli dropped him at second slip off Zaheer’s bowling. Ojha, first removed Williamson for the third time in the series and then had Guptill caught at midwicket as the Black caps lost three wickets for 108 runs in the first session on the first day of the Bangalore Test on Friday. The Kiwis have scored at a brisk rate and have shown their intent to face the Indian spinners but have already lost three wickets. Zaheer has been superb this morning and nearly had his second wicket in Guptill.

New Zealand(First innings) Score: 89/3 (Over: 23.3)

And Ojha strikes again! This time his victim is Martin Guptill who was looking strong this morning. He has hit one straight into the hands of Gautam Gambhir at midwicket. Williamson fell after going for a drive that took the inner edge of the bat. He departs after scoring 53 (79b, 4X8). They are being a bit overaggressive. Have to be careful.

New Zealand(First innings) Score: 69/2 (Over: 19.1)

Fifty for Guptill! He reaches the milestone with a four towards third man area. He hasn’t given an inch after being handed a life early in the innings and is consistently getting the boundaries (8 so far) hitting three of them in the 18th over.

New Zealand(First innings) Score: 63/2 (Over: 18.1)

Ojha strikes! Kane Williamson gets out to the spinner for the third time in the series. Ojha tossed one up that was angling down to the leg, Williamson misread it and was hit on the inside thigh pad. The Indians appeal and umpire Davis raises his finger. He departs for 17 (44b, 4X2). The partnership has been broken.

New Zealand(First innings) Score: 45/1 (Over: 15)

Zaheer is bowling beautifully! He is getting the movement and keeping the Kiwis on their toes. Ojha came back to bowl the 15th over before drinks were called. Guptill welcomes him by playing his angled delivery fine for a boundary. A loud shout from the Indians as Guptill fails to offer bat to the ball that hits him on the pad. It would have missed the stumps.

New Zealand(First innings) Score: 23/1 (Over: 9.1)

DROPPED! Martin Guptill has been handed a life at third slip by Virat Kohli. Zaheer induced an edge that was travelling straight into the hands of Suresh Raina. In came Kohli diving from third slip and failed to hold on to the catch. Guptill follows that up with a boundary.

New Zealand(First innings) Score: Score: 0/1 (Over: 1.5)

Zaheer Khan drew first blood for India as he had Brendon McCullum plumb in front of the wickets with a perfect good length ball in his very first over after Dhoni decided to start the proceedings with left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha.

TOSS

New Zealand won the toss and decided to bat first in the second and final Test against India at Bangalore on Friday.

The touring party has made one change in their side. Right-arm pacer Tim Southee is in for Chris Martin.

The hosts, on the other hand, have decided to go with the same outfit that played in the first Test.

The Bangalore pitch looks a bit harder than what we witnessed at Hyderabad.

During the toss Dhoni said he would have done the same thing had they won it. His pkan is to keep things simple and stick to the basics.

Ross Taylor said that they would try to forget the first Test which they had lost by an innings and 115 runs.


India team

G Gambhir, V Sehwag, V Kohli, SR Tendulkar, CA Pujara, SK Raina, MS Dhoni*†, R Ashwin, Z Khan, PP Ojha, UT Yadav

New Zealand team

MJ Guptill, BB McCullum, KS Williamson, LRPL Taylor*, DR Flynn, JEC Franklin, CFK van Wyk†, DAJ Bracewell, JS Patel, TG Southee, TA Boult



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News Network
June 25,2020

Jun 25: After asserting that the 2011 World Cup final was "sold" by "certain parties" in Sri Lanka to India, the island nation's former sports minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage has now called his claim a "suspicion" that he wants investigated.

The Lankan government has ordered an enquiry into the matter and a special Police investigation unit recorded Aluthgamage's statement on Wednesday. He told the team that he was only suspicious of fixing.

"I want my suspicion investigated," Aluthgamage told reporters.

"I gave to the Police, a copy of the complaint I lodged with the International Cricket Council (ICC) on 30 October 2011 regarding the said allegation as then Sports Minister," he said.

Aluthgamage has alleged that his country "sold" the game to India, a claim that was ridiculed by former captains Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene who demanded evidence from him.

Set a target of 275, India clinched the trophy thanks to the brilliance of Gautam Gambhir (97) and then skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (91).

"Today I am telling you that we sold the 2011 world cup, I said this when I was the sports minister," Aluthgamage, who was the sports minister at the time, had stated.

Sangakkara, the captain of Sri Lanka at that time, asked him to produce evidence for an anti-corruption probe.

"He needs to take his 'evidence' to the ICC and the Anti corruption and Security Unit so the claims can be investigated thoroughly," he tweeted.

Jayawardene, also a former captain who scored a hundred in that game, ridiculed the charge.

"Is the elections around the corner...like the circus has started...names and evidence?" he asked in a tweet.

Aluthgamage said that in his opinion no players were involved in fixing the result, "but certain parties were."

Both Aluthgamage and the then President Mahinda Rajapaksa were among the invitees at the final played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Following his allegations, Aravinda de Silva, the former great who was the then chairman of selectors, has urged the BCCI to conduct its own investigation.

De Silva has said he is willing to travel to India to take part in such an investigation despite the current COVID-19 threat.

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News Network
June 10,2020

New Delhi, Jun 10: Former India skipper Rahul Dravid has praised the batting of MS Dhoni during the backend of a match, saying that the wicket-keeper often played during the period as if the result did not really matter to him.

Dravid also said that in pressure-cooker situations, not worrying about consequences can help players bring out the best in themselves.

"You watch MS Dhoni play during the backend of a match when he was at his best, you always felt like that he is doing something really important to him but he is playing it like the result does not really matter to him," Dravid told Sanjay Manjrekar during a videocast hosted by ESPNCricinfo.

"I think you need to have that or you need to train for it. It is a skill that I never had. The consequences of any decision mattered to me. It would be interesting to ask MS Dhoni that is this something that has come naturally to him or did he work on this during his career," he added.

Dhoni made his ODI debut against Bangladesh in 2004, but he truly arrived in the series against Pakistan in 2005 when he scored 148 runs in the second ODI of the six-match series at Vishakapatnam.

He is the only captain to win all major ICC trophies (50-over World Cup, T20 World Cup, and Champions Trophy). Under his leadership, India also managed to attain the number one ranking in Test cricket.

He first led an inexperienced Indian side to the T20 World Cup triumph in 2007. He then took over ODI captaincy, but he had to wait for leading the Test side as Anil Kumble was doing the duties in the longest format.

Over his career, Dhoni has been reowned for his finishing skills and he is often viewed as the best finisher that the game has ever seen.

In December 2014, Dhoni announced his retirement from the longest format of the game.

Then in 2017, Dhoni handed over the captaincy reins to Virat Kohli in the 50-over format.

Dhoni was slated to return to the cricket field on March 29 in the IPL's opening match between CSK and Mumbai Indians. However, the tournament has been suspended indefinitely as a precautionary measure against coronavirus.

Thirty-eight-year-old Dhoni has been currently enjoying some time away from the game. He last played competitive cricket during the 2019 World Cup.

Dhoni recently had to face criticism for his slow batting approach during India's matches.

Earlier this year, Dhoni did not find a place in the list of BCCI's centrally contracted players from October 2019 to September 2020.

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News Network
May 12,2020

New Delhi, May 12: Virat Kohli's natural talent makes him a cricketing equivalent of Roger Federer while Steve Smith's mental fortitude matches that of Rafael Nadal, said South African swashbuckler AB de Villiers comparing the two contemporary greats.

In an instagram chat with former Zimbabwe seamer Pommie Mbangwa, de Villiers spoke about the two batsmen, who are easily the game's biggest crowd-pullers right now.

"It's a difficult one, but Virat is definitely the more natural ball-striker, there's no doubt about that," de Villiers said during his interaction on 'Sports Hurricane'.

"In tennis terms, I'd say he's more like a (Roger) Federer whereas Smith is like a (Rafael) Nadal. Smith is mentally very strong and figures out a way of scoring runs - he doesn't look natural, but he ends up writing records and doing amazing things at the crease.

"I think mentally, Smith is one of the best I have ever seen. Virat has also scored runs all over the world and won games under pressure," de Villiers,himself a modern day great, said.

De Villiers also felt that when it comes to chasing, Kohli is a shade ahead of Tendulkar.

"Sachin is a role model for both of us (him and Kohli). The way he stood out in his era, the things he achieved and with the grace he did all that is a great example for everyone," de Villiers said.

"And I think Virat will also say that he set the standards for us to follow.

"But personally, in a chase, I'd say Virat is the best I've seen in my life. Sachin was amazing in all formats and all situations, but Virat comes out on top while chasing."

The world knows Kohli as a prolific cricketer but for de Villiers, he is a friend, who has interests beyond cricket and is spiritual at one level.

"He's much deeper than just a cricket player...I think most people realise after a while that there's more to life than just cricket," de Villiers said.

"...Virat's always been a thinker, he experiments (with) a lot of things, he loves trying new things out - gym wise, what he puts in his mouth. He thinks a lot about life after life - what's to come, the different religions, we talk about everything."

De Villiers said that he also shares a great bond with Indian captain's actor wife Anushka Sharma, conversing on a lot of issues including family life.

"We go pretty deep and his missus as well, Anushka, we have very deep conversations, which is fantastic. We talk about children and family. We're waiting for that first little Kohli to come.

"It's a good friendship and we always find a way to talk about cricket as well, but 90 per cent of the time we talk about other stuff. It's refreshing and in the middle of a very intense IPL tournament," he shared.

IPL, for de Villiers, is not just a tournament but also about friendships that he cherishes.

"Obviously, when it comes to the IPL in India, it's been more than friendship," De Villiers said, when asked who his best friends in cricket are.

"Virat obviously - not only during the IPL, we chat throughout the year, which means it's different than just the IPL or cricketing friendship.

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