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Kiwis ride on Ryder’s shoulders

S. Ram Mahesh

Indian batsmen come a cropper in the final ODI

— Photo: AFP

IN FULL FLOW: Jesse Ryder was in the thick of action during New Zealand’s thumping win in the final ODI in Auckland on Saturday.

AUCKLAND: Jesse Ryder imposed his will on the fifth and final One-Day International played in front of 21,285 fans — of which it seemed 21,000 were Indian — here at Eden Park on Saturday. After moonlighting effectively with the ball for three wickets, the 24-year-old opener flayed India’s attack for 63 of the most powerfully hit runs you’d hope to see.

First, Ryder and Jacob Oram orchestrated an Indian batting collapse, their 18 overs of controlled medium-pace accounting for five of India’s top seven batsmen while giving away only 51 runs. Then Ryder set New Zealand up, so it passed the target of 150 with plenty to spare for its first victory of the series.

India, which took the series 3-1, briefly showed why it is one of the top sides in the world. It hit back after the batting failure, beginning well with the ball under lights, its seamers sharp, its fielders keen. When Brendon McCullum was bowled by Praveen Kumar for two, it seemed as if the game might turn into a dramatic low-scoring stoush — in sharp contrast to how the series has gone.

Worthy ally

But Ryder found in the rangy Martin Guptill a worthy ally, and proceeded to tear into India’s bowlers with heavy-hitting strokes sprung from a short back-lift and a stable base. The contest with Ishant Sharma was riveting, but one-sided. Ryder’s spectacular pulling showed how much time he had against a bowler of considerable pace.

Ishant attempted to engage Ryder in conversation — rather unnecessarily — and was hooked for six for his efforts. Ryder eventually chopped one on, but Guptill took over the role of authority figure and batted with poise. He ended the game by swiping Ishant for six before pulling him for four.

India’s innings (shortened to 43 overs) began under cloudy skies, with a hint of rain in the air. Virender Sehwag started by hitting Kyle Mills on the up over extra-cover for six. This he bettered by hitting Mills again for six over extra-cover, but off a ball that pitched slightly shorter in length and cut away after landing.

But, the new-ball pair of Mills and O’Brien managed a little more tightness, and although the latter struggled with his control, they managed to keep Sehwag off strike. Gautam Gambhir, who looked to nudge and deflect because he couldn’t time his drives right, was caught behind trying to dab to third-man. Sehwag restored normalcy off one O’Brien over, collecting 14 off three balls.

New Zealand dropped Sehwag and Suresh Raina within a short space of time — Taylor (slip) and McCullum (point) the culprits, O’Brien and Mills the sufferers — and it looked like another long, laboured leather hunt would commence.

Changing the course

The introduction of Oram and Ryder altered matters. Strong men both, they put enough work on the ball to make it do things off the straight; crucially, they were disciplined, giving few balls to drive, cut, or pull. Then Scott Styris, a last-minute call-up after left-armer Ewen Thompson injured a thumb, pulled off a superb catch that lifted the home side.

Raina got more elevation than distance on a ball he swung at, and Styris, at mid-on, and Vettori, at mid-off, seemed happy to let the other catch it. Styris decided late that he might as well do the thing, running back to complete a diving catch.

A mis-hit

Oram also dismissed Sehwag, shortening his length as the batsman advanced to provoke a mis-hit. McCullum made no mistake this time around. When Sehwag left, he had made 40 of India’s 69, but had faced only 27 balls in 11.5 overs — evidence that his partners didn’t feed him the strike he so craves.

Ryder then accounted for three of India’s most feared strikers of a cricket ball. Dhoni and Yusuf Pathan edged honest, accurate off-cutters on to their stumps, while Yuvraj Singh nicked one to the ’keeper.

Two run-outs ensued — both involved questionable running and Rohit Sharma.

But the first had a touch of brilliance from Vettori, who intercepted a Rohit cover-drive that seemed headed to the boundary, and managed a powerful, well-directed throw from a seated position to the bowler.

Rohit hung in, but ran out of partners.

SCOREBOARD

India: G. Gambhir c McGlashan b Mills 5 (16b); V. Sehwag c McCullum b Oram 40 (27b, 3x4, 3x6); S. Raina c Styris b Oram 8 (19b, 1x4); Rohit (not out) 43 (74b, 1x4, 1x6); Yuvraj c McGlashan b Ryder 11 (24b); M.S. Dhoni b Ryder 9 (21b, 1x4); Yusuf b Ryder 0 (4b); Harbhajan (run out) 1 (5b); Zaheer (run out) 5 (10b); Praveen c McGlashan b O'Brien 6 (12b, 1x4); Ishant c Taylor b O'Brien 3 (7b); Extras (lb-9, w-9): 18; Total (in 36.3 overs): 149.

Fall of wickets: 1-30 (Gambhir), 2-65 (Raina), 3-69 (Sehwag), 4-88 (Yuvraj), 5-110 (Dhoni), 6-111 (Yusuf), 7-116 (Harbhajan), 8-131 (Zaheer), 9- 143 (Praveen).

Power Plays: One (overs 1-9): 64/1; Bowling (13-16): 11/0; Batting (32-35): 13/2.

New Zealand bowling: Mills 7-0- 27-1, O'Brien 7.3-0-43-2, Oram 9-0- 22-2, Ryder 9-0-29-3, Vettori 4-0-19-0.

New Zealand: J. Ryder b Ishant 63 (49b, 6x4, 4x6); B. McCullum b Praveen 2 (8b); M. Guptill (not out) 57 (50b, 7x4, 2x6); R. Taylor (not out) 28 (33b, 4x4, 1x6); Extras (w-1): 1; Total (for two wkts. in 23.2 overs): 151. Fall of wickets: 1-9 (McCullum), 2-93 (Ryder).

Power Plays: One (overs 1-9): 48/1; Bowling (10-13): 33/0; Batting (15-18): 31/1.

India bowling: Praveen 4-0-22-1, Zaheer 8-1-51-0, Ishant 7.2-1-63-1, Harbhajan 4-0-15-0.

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