Signing off – That’s all from a wet Wellington, where India’s pacers shone, but Shubman Gill’s side will look back at the way they went about things with the bat and look to correct that. For New Zealand, it was a second game in a row in which they couldn’t dictate terms with the bat, and they will have to find a way to respond. The series now moves to Hamilton for the third ODI on Tuesday, 10th November. The first ball will be bowled at 2 am GMT (7.30 am IST). We look forward to having your company then. Cheers!
The Indian skipper – Shubman Gill says that, as long as India get the win, that is what matters. He acknowledges that batting was not easy and admits that, after bowling New Zealand out for 134, he expected the chase to be straightforward, but it proved otherwise. He is pleased that India got over the line in the end. On the bowling attack clicking together, Gill highlights Gurnoor Brar’s outstanding performance and notes that he bowled well in the previous match too. He believes that, with more games and experience, Brar will become more consistent with his line and length. Gill says Brar already has the pace and bounce, and that consistency will determine how much quality he can bring on a regular basis. When he is asked about Gautam Gambhir’s message to the young bowlers, Gill says most of them already have the qualities India need. For him, the key is performing under pressure, gaining experience by bowling day in and day out, and learning to deliver when it matters most. Gill identifies the late loss of wickets as an area to improve ahead of Hamilton. He says the pitch was challenging, but India lost two more wickets than they would have liked at the end. Knowing rain could arrive, Gill feels the final two shots – resulting in the dismissals of Dhir and Kamboj – did not look good. Says had India lost by four or five runs via DLS, it would have been a ‘stinker’, but he is relieved they got over the line.
The captain of New Zealand – Mitchell Santner admits it was a tricky wicket, with no hiding that fact. He feels India bowled really well upfront and put New Zealand under pressure. He acknowledges that the total was below par at the halfway stage, but gives credit to the bowlers for keeping them in the contest. He says the only way to win was to pick up early wickets, and he was pleased to see the bowlers come back spell after spell and chip away at the wickets. On not bowling himself, Santner says he warmed up for a bit but felt the seamers were effective on this surface, so he chose not to bring himself into the attack. Santner admits that his side could have done better to scrape their way to 160 or 180. He acknowledges that India bowled really well and made life difficult for the batters. Providing an update on Blair Tickner, Santner confirms that he is back at the hotel and hopes he recovers well. However, given his recent concussion, the team will be cautious and give him enough time to recover without rushing things.
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PLAYER OF THE MATCH – Gurnoor Brar has been given the accolade for his career-best figures of 4/30 in his 10 overs. Gurnoor says he has thoroughly enjoyed bowling in New Zealand, explaining that the pace and bounce on offer here suit his game. He notes that pitches in India tend to be flatter, requiring bowlers to hit a hard length, whereas the extra bounce in New Zealand gives the seamers more assistance. On his aggression while bowling and celebrating every wicket, Brar says that a fast bowler operating at around 140-142 kph needs to bring intensity, while also knowing where to draw the line. He adds that he enjoys bowling with that aggression and simply keeps going. On executing his bouncers well, Brar says he tries to bowl the hard length that tempts the batter into the pull shot, around shoulder height. Says he keeps hitting that length, looking to trap the batter.
Time for the presentation ceremony…
Brar breathes fire – Earlier, the start was delayed by an hour because of rain, with the contest reduced to 47 overs per side. It was a no-brainer for Shubman Gill to bowl first, and the seamers consistently probed away and chipped away at the wickets. Dropped on 21 by Gill, Daryl Mitchell brought up a half-century and got a partnership going with Mitchell Santner, but he never really looked in command, and after he fell, the rest caved in. Having gone wicketless in Auckland, Auqib Nabi set the tone upfront with a couple of wickets before the rest took over. Gurnoor Brar was the standout, finishing with a career-best ODI return of 4/30 from his 10 overs, including 2 maidens.
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What might have been – India’s top three have done the heavy lifting lately, so getting all of them out early gave the Kiwis a real spring in their step. Kyle Jamieson was unlucky to pick up just a solitary wicket in his opening spell, while Jacob Duffy accounted for the other two. However, Nathan Smith and Matthew Fisher, brought in as the change bowlers, were not quite as consistent as the situation demanded. Shreyas Iyer made a concerted effort to play the ball as late as possible from the back foot, while KL Rahul brought a calming influence to the middle. When Iyer fell, there was still work to do, and India lost a couple more wickets to some ordinary shot selection. Had the rain not arrived, or had play resumed, anything could have happened.
10.03 am GMT (3.33 pm IST) – The inevitable has happened, and there will be no further play. The umpires have called it off as the rain continues to bucket down in Wellington. So, by the barest of margins, India win by 4 runs (DLS method).
Rain has the final say – India will feel they have got out of jail here. They still needed 22 runs, which looked like a long way off on a wicket where batters struggled throughout. New Zealand had their tails up when the rain intervened, and had they managed to get back on the park, they would have fancied their chances of pulling off a win. But it wasn’t to be. The result means the Men in Blue take a 2-0 lead in the series heading into the third ODI in Hamilton.
9.59 am GMT (3.29 pm IST) – It’s still drizzling in Wellington and it is getting heavier by the minute. So it’s safe to say that there’s no chance of any further play, as we have reached the cut-off time. We shall have the official update on the match status in a few minutes.
9.44 am GMT (3.15 pm IST) – Ugh! Scratch the previous update, folks. Rain is back and the covers are back again as well. The restart had actually been scheduled for 9.55 am GMT (3.25 pm IST), with the chase reduced to 37 overs and a revised target of 133, but the returning rain has dashed those hopes. Still about 15 minutes left until the cut-off time. But it looks like that’s that for this game. Still, we hope for the best. We will have an official word soon. So stay tuned.
9.37 am GMT (3.07 pm IST) – It looks like the rain has stopped in Wellington. The two umpires are out for an inspection, this time without their umbrellas. And just as we speak, the covers are being peeled off. We aren’t far away from a resumption, it seems. Stay tuned for more updates.
9.27 am GMT (2.57 pm IST) – Unfortunately, the drizzle persists and it is fairly steady, so the covers remain firmly in place, and there is no activity out in the middle. We are also hearing that the cut-off time is 10 am GMT (3.30 pm IST). Meaning, if the rain doesn’t stop by then, India will walk away with the win as they are ahead on the DLS par score. But we still have around 30 minutes for that, so let’s keep our fingers crossed.
9.17 am GMT (2.27 pm IST) – Ian Smith updates on air that the rain has eased since the players left the field. Let’s hope the rain stops completely and the game reaches its natural conclusion. It has been a fiercely competitive contest, with neither side willing to give an inch. With the match already shortened to 47 overs per side, more overs will be lost straight away, and the target will be revised under the DLS method.
Game stopped due to : Rain Stoppage
9.12 am GMT (2.42 pm IST) – The two umpires converge to have a word and they request the players to go off the field as the rain has gotten a bit heavier. KL Rahul tucks his bat into his jersey and rushes off. India are 4 runs ahead of the DLS par score, so if the rain has the final say, the tourists will take the win. Let’s hope it does not end in such a dampening fashion. The covers are being brought on to protect the pitch, while the two umpires remain out under their umbrellas, speaking with the head of the ground staff.
Oh, dear! To add to the drama, Ian Smith informs on air that there’s a bit of rain coming down. But India are just ahead of the DLS par score of 109, so they are only just in front.
Kyle Jamieson to KL Rahul, That’s Jamieson done for the night. He bends his back and bowls it on a back of a length. Rahul arches back and glides it down to deep third. He keeps the strike with a single. End of a superb outing with the ball for the towering quick – 10-1-35-3. Will it be in a winning cause? We shall see.
Kyle Jamieson to KL Rahul, This is pitched up, on middle. KL brings his bat out in front to defend it out watchfully.
Kyle Jamieson to Auqib Nabi, Into the wicket, on middle and leg. Nabi pivots and rolls his wrists over the ball to play the pull behind square leg for a single.
It’s all happening here in Wellington. New Zealand are well and truly back in the game. And if they manage to get KL Rahul’s wicket, anything can happen. Auqib Nabi is in at number 9.
Kyle Jamieson to Anshul Kamboj, OUT! CAUGHT! Anshul Kamboj, what have you done? That will be the cry from the Indian fans. He just needed to hang in there with KL Rahul, but he goes for the big hit and has thrown it away. Jamieson hits the top of off. Kamboj clears the front leg, puts his head down and has a swipe across the line. Gets a top edge, and it is skied down to deep third, where Jacob Duffy gets on his knees and gets his hands out in front to take the catch. India are now 7 down for 111, needing 24 more runs.
Kyle Jamieson to Anshul Kamboj, Dishes it out on a hard length with short leg in place but the line is a bit wide. Kamboj still has a fee for the delivery and is beaten on the outside edge.
Kyle Jamieson to KL Rahul, Cuts back in off the surface towards the hip. Rahul is taken aback by the steep bounce but manages to fend it down towards square leg for a run. India require 24 more runs.
Kyle Jamieson to bowl out. 9-1-32-2 so far. A wide first slip in place.
Jacob Duffy to KL Rahul, This is on a length, on off. Rahul leans across to block but gets it off the inner half behind square leg for a single.
Jacob Duffy to Anshul Kamboj, Excellent effort in the field. Duffy strays down leg, on a back of a length. Kamboj tries to help it away with the angle. Gets a bit of a tickle on it before the ball brushes his shirt and goes down to deep fine leg. Kyle Jamieson covers a lot of ground to his right and dives to prevent the boundary. Just a single.
Is there some late twist left in the game? KL Rahul is stranded at one end and India need 32 runs to win. Anshul Kamboj is in at number 8.
Caught in the deep by Seifer. But the on-field umpires have sent it for review for a fair catch. The question is whether his feet are touching the ropes while holding the ball. After a couple of angles, it is deemed a fair catch. Looked touch and go, to be very honest, but the benefit of the doubt goes in favor of the fielder here.
Jacob Duffy to Naman Dhir, OUT! CAUGHT! Jacob Duffy has his man. Switches to around the wicket with the field set for the short ball, and this is pushed across the right-hander. Dhir takes the risk of going against the angle and playing the hook. Gets it more from the lower half of the bat and it goes straight down the throat of Tim Seifert at deep backward square leg, who takes a reverse cup catch around his neck. The third umpire has been called into action to check the legality of the catch. The boundary cushions are pushed back slightly where Tim Seifert is standing. After a thorough check, the third umpire concludes that there is no conclusive evidence to suggest that Seifert’s feet are in contact with the boundary cushions.
Jacob Duffy to Naman Dhir, Good response! A proper short ball, getting it high around the neck. The ball keeps following Dhir, who arches back and drops his hands to let the ball go.
Santner walks towards the bowler and has a chat with Duffy. Some fielding tweaks are being made. Good to go.
Jacob Duffy to Naman Dhir, FOUR! That is an incredible shot. Jacob bangs it in short, on off. Dhir takes half a step across the stumps and climbs all over it. He flat bats it with power past the outstretched right hand of Duffy, and the mid on fielder stands no chance. India need 27 more runs.
Jacob Duffy to Naman Dhir, At 135 kph, bowled on a good length, on off. Dhir stabs it down to backward point.
Kyle Jamieson to Naman Dhir, Out comes the short ball, on off. Dhir pulls but mistimes it through square leg for a single.
Kyle Jamieson to Naman Dhir, Nice and tight, not offering any width and hitting the bat hard, on a back of a length. Dhir presses up on his toes and angles it to backward point.
Kyle Jamieson to Naman Dhir, Tighter line, on top of off. Dhir walks across and defends it watchfully.
Simon Doull informs us on air that Henry Nicholls has left the field for some reason. Nick Kelly is in as his substitute.
Kyle Jamieson to Naman Dhir, A flash and a miss! Jamieson slams the deck hard and gets the ball to take off. Dhir tries to cash in on the width and flay it away but the ball climbs over the bat.
Kyle Jamieson to Naman Dhir, Angled in at the stumps, Dhir wrists it from the crease to mid-wicket.
Kyle Jamieson to Naman Dhir, Nibbling away a touch, on a good length, on off. Naman drops it beside the strip on the off side and sets off for a run before being sent back by KL.
Jacob Duffy to KL Rahul, Pushed outside off, on a length. This is not close enough to make the batter play and Rahul makes an easy leave.
Jacob Duffy to KL Rahul, SIX! KL Rahul would have had his heart in his mouth for a moment there. Cross-seam ball, dug in short, on off. Rahul takes on the short ball, and he does not quite get on top of the bounce. It comes off a top edge, but it is hit to the shorter side, and it goes right in the gap between the two fielders at deep fine leg and deep square leg. India go past 100, and they need 32 more runs to win.
Jacob Duffy to KL Rahul, Around the off stump, on a good length. KL gets right behind the line to defend.
Jacob Duffy to Naman Dhir, Attacking the front pad with a length ball. Dhir walks across the stumps and plays around his front pad, clipping it between mid-wicket and mid on for a single.
Jacob Duffy to KL Rahul, Well bowled! Duffy goes short but it is the off-cutter, on off. Rahul pivots for the pull but does not pick up the change of pace and is early into the shot. Mistimes it to deep square leg for just a single.
Jacob Duffy to KL Rahul, No Ball! Fuller in length, closer to the off stump. Rahul gives it a close look and makes the leave. Oh, Duffy has overstepped. Free Hit coming up.
Jacob Duffy to KL Rahul, Bowled by going wide on the crease, on a length, outside off. KL offers no shot.
Kyle Jamieson to Naman Dhir, FOUR! Up and over! Jamieson goes into the surface but offers width. Dhir hops and frees his arms to slam it over cover-point. There is no protection in the deep and Naman picks up his first boundary. India need 41 more runs to win.
Kyle Jamieson to Naman Dhir, This is on a hard length, outside off. Naman stands tall on top of the bounce and drops it down on the off side.
Will Young
Tim Seifert
Henry Nicholls
Rohit Sharma
Shubman Gill (C)
Virat Kohli
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