New Zealand’s Trent Boult, right, celebrates the dismissal of India’s Rohit Sharma, left, during their second one-day international cricket match in New Delhi, India, Thursday, Oct. 20, 2016. (AP Photo/Tsering Topgyal)

New Delhi: New Zealand bounced back in style to beat India by six runs in the second One-Day International (ODI) and level the five-match series 1-1 at the Ferozeshah Kotla here on Thursday.

Chasing a modest 243, a complacent India were off to a poor start with wickets tumbling at regular intervals as the New Zealand bowlers used the evening dew to their advantage.

Maharashtra batsman Kedar Jadhav (41), skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (39) and Ajinkya Rahane (28) offered some resistance but that was not enough to take the hosts over the line.

Dhoni’s ploy of playing the waiting game on a slow and low Kotla track backfired against an inspired Kiwi bowling aided by some agile fielding.

The opening pair of Rohit Sharma (15) and Rahane put on 21 runs before pacer Trent Boult dismissed Rohit off an outside edge which was caught behind by keeper Luke Ronchi.

After the dismissal, Rohit immediately clutched his bicep, writhing in pain, as the physio came out to take a look at him. His 27-ball innings was laced with a four and a six.

Rohit’s departure brought in local boy Virat Kohli (9) — a moment which the capacity crowd at Kotla waited for all day — amidst thunderous applause.

But the celebrations soon dampened as the Test skipper was strangled down his legs by left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner inducing a thin edge which Ronchi successfully grabbed.

Rahane was then joined by rookie Manish Pandey (19) and the right-handed duo put on 32 runs for the third wicket before the Mumbaikar fell prey to a controversial decision leaving India reeling at 72/3. Rahane’s 49-ball effort composed of three boundaries.

Pandey soon made his way back to the pavilion, scoring a 25-ball 19 laced with a six after an outstanding run out by Santner.

Struggling at a precarious 73/4, Dhoni and Jadhav walked into the middle and the duo put on 66 for the fifth wicket with the Maharashtra keeper-bat outscoring his skipper.

Jadhav, who managed to take a wicket with his part-time off-spin earlier in the day, looked in great rhythm with the willow. He scored a 37-ball 41 with two fours and as many sixes before pacer Matt Henry sent him back.

Dhoni was then joined by left-arm spinner Axar Patel (17), and the duo forged a 33-run stand for the sixth wicket before the Ranchi stumper was brilliantly caught by Tim Southee off his own bowling.

With the match running away from India’s grasps, all-rounder Hardik Pandya raised the hopes with a brilliant 32-ball 36 and more importantly a 49-ball stand with Umesh Yadav (18 not out) for the ninth wicket.

Pandya, however, in his attempt to accelerate was dismissed in the penultimate over by Boult, leaving the hosts fall short of the target by six runs.

For the Kiwis, Southee was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets while Boult and Martin Guptill took two wickets each. Santner and Henry also took a wicket each.

Earlier, riding on skipper Kane Williamson’s eighth career century, New Zealand put up an improved batting performance before losing the track to post 242/9.Williamson (118) helped the visitors recover from yet another disappointing start after being sent in to bat.

But just when it looked like New Zealand were heading for a decent total, Indian bowlers pulled the plugs by taking six wickets within a span of 38 runs to restrict the visitors below the 250-run mark on a slow Kotla track.

Seasoned leg-spinner Mishra and young medium pacer Bumrah took three wickets apiece to break the backbone of the Kiwi batting even as Yadav, Axar Patel and Jadhav chipped in with one wicket each.

The 26-year-old Williamson, who came in after opener Guptill was clean bowled off the second ball of the match by pacer Yadav, was involved in all the three decent partnerships which took the Black Caps to some sort of respectability.

Playing his 95th match, the right-hander first put on 120 runs with opener Tom Latham (46) for the second wicket before adding 38 and 46 runs respectively for the second and third wickets with Ross Taylor (21) and Corey Anderson (21).

In his attempt to avoid another batting collapse, Williamson started cautiously picking the odd singles before changing gears once Dhoni employed his spinners.

Williamson, who was dropped twice on 46 and 59, took full advantage of the lives as he went on to bring up his century off 109 balls, with 13 fours and a six. His second- wicket stand with Latham turned out to be the cornerstone of their batting effort.

It was once again part-timer Jadhav, who gave India the vital breakthrough by removing Latham, and help the home side make inroads into the Kiwi batting line-up.

The southpaw’s run-a-ball 46 comprised six fours and a six.

Taylor, who joined Williamson at the fall of Latham was visibly out of touch, scoring a 42-ball 21, but more importantly stood firm with his skipper for a 38-run stand.

Taylor’s stay at the crease was cut short by Mishra, who deceived him with a faster ball only to be caught at deep midwicket by Rohit.

The former Kiwi skipper’s dismissal brought in all-rounder Anderson, who added 46 vital runs with Williamson to take the team over the 200-run mark. He soon fell prey to the leggie after scoring 21 off 32 balls, which included two boundaries.

Adding insult to the injury, Mishra then bowled a shorter delivery to pack off Williamson, who was caught by Ajinkya Rahane at the long-on boundary. Williamson’s 128-run innings was laced with 14 boundaries and a massive six.

Struggling at 213/5 and with almost seven overs to go, Indian bowlers took full advantage of the situation to pack the next four batsman within a span of 29 runs.

Luke Ronchi (6), Anton Devcich (7), Tim Southee (0) and Matt Henry (6) looked to be in a competition to get back to the pavilion as Bumrah piled on the misery taking three wickets with his brilliant yorkers alongside Patel’s miserly efforts to restrict them to 242/9.

With the five match series levelled at 1-1, India will now take on the Kiwis in the third match on October 23 at the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) Stadium in Mohali.

(IANS)

New Delhi: Skipper Kane Williamson played a brilliant 118-run knock as New Zealand posted 242/9 in the second One-Day International against India at the Ferozeshah Kotla cricket stadium here on Thursday.

The next highest New Zealand scorer was opener Tom Latham who contributed 46 runs.

Experienced leg-spinner Amit Mishra and pacer Jasprit Bumrah scalped three wickets each for India.

(IANS)

Kolkata: Poor batting display by Delhi saw them being skittled out for a paltry 90 before Karnataka batsmen applied themselves much better to take a 41-run lead in their Ranji Trophy cricket tie at the Eden Gardens here on Thursday.

At stumps, Karanataka were 131/3 in 52 overs with Nair (three not out) and nightwatchman Abhimanyu Mithun (seven not out) at the crease.

This is Delhi’s lowest total against Karnakata in Ranji Trophy matches.

On a good track, which aided the spinners, Delhi failed to display the temperament as Rishabh Pant (24) and Dhruv Shorey (24) were the top-scorers for the capital side.

For Karnataka, pacer Sreenath Aravind returned figures of 4/12 with off-spinner Krishnappa Gowtham making the most of the track and accounting for three of the Delhi batters (3/26).

After being put in to bat by Karnataka, Delhi’s downslide started as early as in the first over, opener Unmukt Chand falling plumb in front to Aravind in only his fourth delivery.

Gambhir soon departed after playing 16 balls for just 2. This time Nair taking the southpaw at short mid-on while he was trying to pull Aravind. The rest followed suit without adding to much to the total.

Karnataka though did not show any such jitters while batting. Openers Mayank Agarwal (56) and Ravikumar Samarth (53) notching up fifties before Vikas Tokas took both the wickets.

Robin Uthappa (5) did not last long as he was sent back to the pavilion by Pawal Suyal.

Making a comeback after a bout of Chikungunya, India frontline pacer Ishant Sharma returned wicket-less and bowled just 10 overs in four short spells.

Brief scores: Delhi 90 all out (Rishab Pant 24, D Shorey 24; S Aravind 4/12), Karnataka 131/3 (Mayank Agarwal 56, R Samarth 53; Vikas Tokas 2/35).

(IANS)

Kochi: Three years after identifying a city stadium as a possible football World Cup venue, a high-level FIFA delegation on Wednesday cleared it to be considered for holding 2017 U-17 World Cup.

The venue cleared is the local Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium that stages One-Day International cricket and Indian Super League football matches.

Tournament Director Javier Ceppi told reporters here that Kochi becomes the first Indian city to be officially declared as one of the venues to host the next year’s U-17 World Cup.

“Congratulations! We are pleased to announce Kochi as a venue. A few more things have to be completed and we will continue to closely work with the government of Kerala,” said Ceppi.

It was the then Chief Minister Oommen Chandy who in 2013 expressed the state government’s willingness to play host to the tournament, assuring all possible support.

Since then, FIFA officials have been visiting the main as well as practice venues in this port city.

Suggestions were made by the visiting delegations to develop this venue to achieve the standards required. On their part, local authorities also spared no effort to ensure that the opportunity is not lost.

The deadline fixed for making the venue foolproof for the tournament is March 2017, when the delegation will visit again.

(IANS)

Dharamsala: Despite completing a 3-0 whitewash of New Zealand in the Test rubber, India will be wary of the visitors’ prowess in the shorter format when both the teams face off in the first of the five-match One-Day International (ODI) series here on Sunday.

With the conditions at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) stadium favouring the pacers, New Zealand will bank on their recent ODI performance — winning four of their last five bilateral competitions, including a recent series win over Australia — to give a tough fight to the hosts.

Moreover, Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson has a better squad at his disposal, with the return of pacer Tim Southee and all-rounder Corey Anderson, making them a force to reckon with. Southee was ruled out with a late injury while Anderson’s arrival would bolster their misfiring middle-order.

However, Williamson will need runs from two of his most experienced batsmen — Ross Taylor and Martin Guptill — who have failed to click so far on this tour.

Guptill, who scored just 159 runs from six innings, will not let those failures affect him in the ODIs. The opener has an average of 43.25 in ODIs with a strike-rate of 86.08, and is one of only five people in world cricket to have scored a double century in 50 overs.

Having said that, New Zealand’s best chance of scripting history — they have never won a bilateral ODI series in India — will depend heavily on Williamson. The skipper needs to provide stability to the team and score runs, and also ensure the likes of Anderson and James Neesham in the lower order can have a go at scoring quick runs.

Also with both premier spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja rested for the ODIs, the Kiwis will heave a sigh of relief when they take the field in the black jersey. Ashwin and Jadeja tormented the New Zealanders with the Chennai off-spinner emerging the highest wicket-taker of the Test series with 27 scalps.

On the other hand, despite being the favourites, India have a comparatively untested side for the first three ODIs. Apart from Ashwin and Jadeja, pacer Mohammed Shami has also been rested.

Injuries to Lokesh Rahul, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar and Shikhar Dhawan have ruled the trio out, creating chances for promising players like Mandeep Singh, Manish Pandey, Dhawal Kulkarni and Axar Patel — all of them part of the squad that toured Zimbabwe in India’s last 50-over cricket assignment.

Senior batsman Suresh Raina has also been recalled to the squad, but he will miss the first ODI due to viral fever.

With Manish performing in India A’s tour of Australia and the aggressive Hardik Pandya in the side, Dhoni can afford to come up the order and bat with Kohli in the middle overs besides pushing Ajinkya Rahane to open with Rohit Sharma.

Maharashtra keeper-batsman Kedar Jadhav may well get a look-in as a pure batsman with Dhoni donning the big gloves.

The Dharamsala pitch generally assists pacemen and that could give Dhawal Kulkarni a place in the playing XI alongside Jasprit Bumrah, while Axar Patel, Amit Mishra and Umesh Yadav are the likely options in the bowling department.

The Dharamsala ODI will be followed by matches in Delhi (October 20), Mohali (October 23), Ranchi (October 26) and Visakhapatnam (October 29). All five are day-and-night encounters.

Squads:

India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Captain & wk), Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli, Manish Pandey, Suresh Raina, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Jayant Yadav, Amit Mishra, Jasprit Bumrah, Dhawal Kulkarni, Umesh Yadav, Mandeep Singh, Kedar Jadhav.

New Zealand: Kane Williamson (Captain), Corey Anderson, Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Anton Devcich, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, James Neesham, Luke Ronchi (wk), Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, B.J. Watling (wk).

(IANS)

Dharamsala: “Aggressive intent” was the key behind India’s overwhelming success against New Zealand in the Test series and the hosts aim to continue playing the same brand of cricket in the upcoming five-match ODI series, middle-order batsman Ajinkya Rahane said here today.

India whitewashed New Zealand 3-0 in the just-concluded Test series to claim the nuemro uno position in the ICC Test rankings and Rahane credits the success to aggressive intent.

“I think discipline will be the key. The kind of cricket we played in the Test series, our intent was aggressive all the time. So here again our intent will be aggressive, play intensive cricket and play to our strength rather than focusing on opponent’s strengths and weaknesses,” Rahane told reporters at the HPCA stadium.

He also said that gaining the momentum early on will be key in deciding the fate of the five-match series, which starts with the first ODI here on Sunday.

“I am really looking forward to the One-Day series, especially after the Test series. But again it is important to start fresh here. Momentum will be the key. Winning the first match will be very important to be in that momentum,” said the Mumbaikar, who is the vice-captain of the Test side.

Asked how difficult it is for a cricketer to make adjustments from one format to the other in a short span of time, Rahane said: “I believe its completely mental adjustment because as a professional cricketer it is important for us to adjust to any format.

“It is important how we adjust mentally. Getting used to the conditions will be a big factor and we are actually experienced in that. So we don’t think too much about the change in formats. It’s all about how you deal with certain situations and factors. Mental adjustment will be key in ODIs,” he said.

India have rested three senior cricketers in Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammad Shami and Ravindra Jadeja from the series, keeping in mind the long season ahead.

With an aim to broaden the bench strength, the new selection committee, headed by MSK Prasad, have included a few youngsters — Jayant Yadav, Axar Patel, Dhawal Kulkarni, Mandeep Singh and Manish Pandey — in the squad.

Rahane feels it is a welcome move by the selectors to give new guys opportunity at the highest level.

“I am really excited about the new guys coming into the team. It’s really energising, everyone is looking in good shape. The guys have done pretty well in India A series and few guys did well in Ranji Trophy matches,” he said.

“It’s all about giving the new guys confidence and opportunity at the highest level.”
Rahane also refused to think too much ahead and preferred to concentrate on the task at hand.

“As of now it is important for us to focus on this series rather than thinking about the Champions Trophy. It’s still a long way to go for the Champions Trophy. We will play one match at a time,” he said.

Talking about his new role as vice-captain of the Test side, Rahane said he relishes the responsibility of Virat Kohli’s deputy.

“I don’t believe in seniority or juniority. It’s all about learning at every step and giving inputs. I really learnt a lot as vice-captain.

“On the field it is important for you to stay alert all the time because there are plenty of things going on in a captain’s mind. So as a vice-captain it is important to stay alert all the time and whatever inputs you have you pass it on to your captain,” he concluded.

(PTI)

REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

Indore: The Virat Kohli-led India made a perfect Dussehra gift to the cricket-mad nation as it mauled New Zealand by 321 runs in the third and final Test at the Holkar Cricket Stadium here on Tuesday.

Completing a 3-0 clean sweep in the series, India have now stamped their authority and clinched the No. 1 International Cricket Council (ICC) Test ranking from Pakistan. They had already bagged the top spot after winning the second Test at Kolkata.

Star off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin once again single-handedly triggered another batting collapse of the Kiwis, to return with career-best figures of 7/59 in the visitors’ second innings, bundling them out for a paltry 153 in response to the mammoth target of 475.

Ashwin, who took six wickets in the first innings of the Test, took his overall tally to 13 in the match, besides pushing a total to 27 scalps in the three Tests.

The Chennai tweaker was well assisted by left-armer Ravindra Jadeja, who took two wickets in the second innings, while pacer Umesh Yadav chipped in with one wicket.

Ashwin was adjudged both the Man of the Match and Series for his heroics with the cherry during the series.

Such was the havoc wrought by the Indian spinners that the entire New Zealand second innings were wrapped up virtually in one session.

Faced with a Herculean task, the New Zealanders failed to provide any kind of resistance to the Indian spinners on a track which gradually turned slow and low as the days progressed.

Senior batsman Ross Taylor (32), opener Martin Guptill (29), skipper Kane Williamson (27) and stumper B.J. Watling (23 not out) got the kind of starts but failed to capitalise in their hurry for quick runs, which worked in favour of the hosts to wrap up the match on the fourth day.

Earlier, riding on Cheteshwar Pujara’s brilliant 101 and opener Gautam Gambhir’s 56-ball 50, India declared their second innings at 216/3 with an overall lead of 474 runs, just before the tea break.

Pujara was unbeaten on 101 runs off 148 balls with Ajinkya Rahane (23 not out) batting at the other end when Kohli decided to declare the innings midway through the post-lunch session.

The Saurashtra batsman, who has been in good form in this series, thus completed the seventh century of his Test career. He has also scored three half-centuries during the series.

Among the Kiwi bowlers, off-spinner Jeetan Patel was the only one to bag wickets with figures of 2/56.

Patel trapped Kohli leg before shortly after lunch with a delivery that turned and hit the Indian captain on the pads after pitching just outside off stump.

The Kiwi spinner of Indian origin had dismissed Gambhir during the morning session. The third wicket, that of Murali Vijay, fell to a run-out. During the morning session, Gambhir and Pujara hit half-centuries to carry India to a dominant position at lunch.

Gambhir (50), who has won back his place in the team after quite a long gap, completed his half-century off just 56 deliveries before being sent back to the pavilion by Kiwi spinner Jeetan Patel.

Earlier in the match, Kohli’s (211) second double ton and Rahane’s brilliant 188 guided India to a mammoth 557/5 declared before Ashwin stepped up with six wickets to skittle the visitors out for 299 and give the hosts a 258-run lead.

Both the teams will now face off in a five-match One-Day International (ODI) series. The first match is slated for October 16 at the picturesque Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) stadium at Dharamsala.

(IANS)

(AP Photo/ Tsering Topgyal)

Indore: Riding on star off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin’s 20th haul of five wickets or more, India put themselves in a commanding position reaching 18/0 to take an overall lead of 276 runs over New Zealand at stumps on day three of the third and final Test at the Holkar stadium here on Monday.

Ashwin led the Indian charge with six wickets and two brilliant run-outs along with left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja (2/80) to bundle out the visitors for a paltry 299 just after the tea break in response to India’s first innings total of 557/5 declared.

Despite taking a huge lead and in a position to enforce the follow on, India skipper Virat Kohli opted to bat for a second time. Opener Murali Vijay (11) and one down Cheteshwar Pujara (1) were at the crease when the umpires decided to unsettle the bails.

Pujara had to rush to the middle after veteran opener Gautam Gambhir (6) was forced to return to the pavilion with a shoulder injury.

Playing in his 39th Test, Ashwin ran through the Kiwi top order comprising Tom Latham (52), Kane Williamson (8), Ross Taylor (0), Luke Ronchi (0) and James Neesham (71) besides running out top scorer Martin Guptil (72) and Jeetan Patel (18). He later dismissed tailender Trent Boult (0) to finish things off in style.

Jadeja complimented his senior partner well by packing back stumper B.J. Watling (23) and Mitchell Santner (22).

Already on the backfoot after losing the series 0-2, the Kiwis got off to a good start with openers Guptill and Latham, who put on 118 runs but ran out of steam once Kohli introduced spin from both ends.

Apart from the opening partnership, Neesham was involved in two vital stands — 53 for the sixth wicket with Watling and 52 for the seventh wicket with Santner but that was not enough to take the visitors anywhere near the Indian total.

Earlier, resuming the day at 28 for no loss, the visitors had just lost the wicket of Latham when Ashwin trapped him plumb in front in the morning session as they went for lunch at 125/1.

The Indians wrested the upper hand early on in the post-lunch session when New Zealand lost three wickets in four overs.

The Chennai tweaker picked up his second wicket when Williamson dragged the ball onto his stumps while attempting a cut.

The off-spinner then sent Taylor back to the pavilion in his very next over before a straight drive by Ronchi deflected off his hand to hit the stumps at the non-striker’s end and catch Guptill out of his crease.

Ashwin then picked up his fourth wicket when Ajinkya Rahane showed some excellent fielding at first slip to send back Ronchi.

Watling and Neesham then tried to bring the Kiwi innings back on track. But Jadeja found Watling’s outside edge with a delivery that turned away sharply after pitching to put the visitors into further trouble just before the tea break.

After the tea break, it was a one way traffic for India as both the spinners lost little time in taking the remaining four wickets before Kohli opted against enforcing the follow-on.

Eyeing a 3-0 whitewash, India will now aim to consolidate their lead and give a stiff target when they come out to bat on Tuesday.

(IANS)