With the surface being on the slower side in the afternoon, Rohit Sharma lost another toss – the last time he won one was in the semi-final of the 2023 World Cup – and were made to bat first. While it definitely offered an opportunity to test how their batting goes about setting a target, should India field first again in the semi-finals on Tuesday, it is bound to test their bowlers’ workload.
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In the build-up to the game, all the talk had been around how India’s batsmen would counter the Kiwi spinners, who have caused all sorts of problems in recent times. With four spin bowling options in the Kiwi ranks, India’s batting group would definitely be happy with the way they dealt with them as they scored 128 runs in the 25 overs delivered by Mitchell Santner, Michael Bracewell and Rachin Ravindra. A run rate of 5.12 against spinners on this pitch was a vindication of how effective their approach was. Despite managing only six boundaries and three sixes off the trio, they used strike-rotation to keep the dot balls to 66 off the spinners.
By contrast, the New Zealand speedsters offered a stiff challenge. They gave 120 runs in 25 overs, picking up 7 wickets. In a three-pronged seam attack, Henry may be the most lethal with his speed and movement. And in Kyle Jamieson and Will O’Rourke, they have two bowlers who stand at 6’8” and 6’6” respectively and are capable of getting the ball to move. That their attack – which also includes Lockie Ferguson – who is out injured – has repeatedly troubled Indian batsmen isn’t new. But they did so in conditions that were not pace-friendly.
With a silken-smooth action, much like his idol Shane Bond, Henry has troubled India in the past –
famously at an overcast Manchester at the 2019 World Cup. In completely different conditions with no cloud cover, he still managed to generate movement in the air and off the pitch. Though Rohit tried to go after him when he landed short of a good length, when he pitched on a good length, he kept testing both the openers before nailing Shubman Gill with one that seamed in and trapped him plumb.
By the sixth over, Jamieson would get involved. On a slow surface, with pace on offer, Rohit went for a pull – the second time on the day – but this one, thanks to Jamieson’s height, bounced a bit more and lost a bit of pace as well once it landed. It hit the toe-end of the bat as Will Young gladly accepted the offering at square-leg.
Phillips flies
Then came the first bit of brilliance on the field from Phillips who had already taken a blinder in the opening match to dismiss Mohammad Rizwan. This one wasn’t as spectacular, but was still acrobatic as he dived full-length to his right and caught it behind him to cut short Virat Kohli’s innings at 11 in his 300th ODI outing. Stationed at backward point when the seamers operated, he would throw himself to his left and right to prevent singles. When the spinners operated, he would move to the covers and cut down the angles to stop singles towards mid-off. Towards the end of the innings, he would run in from deep mid-wicket and plunge forward valiantly with the capacity crowd giving a round of applause for his effort.
It wasn’t just Phillips. When Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel were setting up a platform, it was Williamson who ended the 98-run partnership with a one-handed diving catch at fine-leg. Later on, wicketkeeper Tom Latham would take another fine catch when KL Rahul edged one off Santner. Then with Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja setting themselves for the final flourish, Williamson, now stationed at backward point, dived to his left full-length to catch the ball centimetres off the turf to the disbelief of the left-hander.
It was the story of India’s innings. Whenever they appeared to take full control of proceedings, New Zealand would come up with something special. In the end, when Pandya was in top gear, Jamieson would keep him in check with a clever mix of back-of-the-hand slower deliveries before conceding a 15-run over that spoiled his figures. But on this pitch, New Zealand walked back having given it their all.
