A throw-back to the 90s
Not often in this fast-paced world of Cricket, that is increasingly fuelled by Twenty20 where near 400
isn’t enough on occasions, that we see days in One Day Internationals that can serve as a model for
how One Day Cricket was played a couple of decades ago. To anyone born near the turn of the
century, look no further than the second ODI of this series to experience a moment of
transcendence. For the ones following One Day Cricket for longer than that this game could bring
back some memories of Kumble and Srinath forging a partnership against Australia watched by their
parents in the stands and eventually bringing victory to India. Except on this occasion Hardik Pandya
and Umesh Yadav’s partnership of 49 runs couldn’t prove victorious.
India started losing the plot early in the innings with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli getting out by 12 th
over and Rahane couldn’t convert a circumspect start, with credit to the discipline of Boult,
managing only 28 off 49 balls. With the top three batsmen back in the hut for 72 runs, immediately
followed by the run-out of Manish Pandey, it seemed like it was all down to Dhoni to do what he
does best. He and Kedar Jadhav struck a good partnership with Jhadhav striking a couple over the
fence. Although Santner kept it tight the partnership ensured India were on their way until Matt
Henry got Jadhav caught behind. Dhoni preferred to take the game to the last few overs however he
wouldn’t have imagined the catch that Southee took, who had to turn to the wrong side in his follow
through and take a brilliant catch. That started the slide with India 8 down for 183. But Pandya and
Umesh took advantage of the late due on the ball and the crowd made noise which almost
shadowed the commentators’ voices. Umesh Yadav payed an impressive cut shot reminding that he
has scored a couple of First-Class hundreds. The two were looking comfortable however on the
second last ball of Bolt’s final over an awkward flat batted shot by Pandya brought his fall and with it
the fall of Bumrah the next over. India missed only by 6 runs.
New Zealand could attribute those 6 runs to kind of start they received from Latham and Williamson
after Guptill had gone after only two deliveries in the first over. Both found gaps regularly and
looked to rotate the strike. However, after Latham’s wicket by Jadhav wickets started falling at
regular intervals. Williamson eventually getting out for a well-crafted 118 off 128 after being the
third victim of Amit Mishra. Bumrah looked to rap up the tail picking up 3 quick wickets at the end
and restricting the Kiwis to 242, which is just as nostalgic a score as the result turned out to be.
-Faraz Baig