The Indian batting line-up stood exposed in slightly favourable bowling conditions as New Zealand won the warm-up match by six wickets here on Saturday.
Under overcast conditions, Trent Boult’s incisive swing bowling proved a tough test for the Indian top-order batsmen and the Men In Blue never recovered from the early collapse. They were shot out for 179 in 39.2 overs.
It was a walk in the park for the Black Caps who reached the target in the 38th over, with Kane Williamson (67) and Ross Taylor (71) in good touch.
Rahul falls cheaply
K.L. Rahul failed at No. 4, Dinesh Karthik’s poor form continued while Vijay Shankar and Kedar Jadhav’s injuries would prevent the team management from having a look at them against Bangladesh in the second warm-up game at Cardiff.
The two wrist spinners — Kuldeep Yadav (0/44 in 8.1 overs) and Yuzvendra Chahal (1/37 in 6 overs) — too didn’t make an impact.
A sub-200 total meant that Williamson and Taylor, during their 114-run stand, hardly took risks against the duo.
For India, Ravindra Jadeja’s decent show (54 off 50 balls and one for 27 off seven overs) was the silver lining.
Terrible start
Boult’s first spell saw openers Rohit Sharma (2) and Shikhar Dhawan (2) as well as Rahul (6) make a quick exit. The lack of footwork was evident as the left-arm seamer trapped Rohit with a delivery that darted in while Dhawan inside-edged a delivery that bounced more than he anticipated. Rahul played on after Boult got one to rear up.
Skipper Virat Kohli (18 off 24 balls) found his defence breached by Colin de Grandhomme’s off-cutter, trying to play across the line.
Jadeja’s half-century ensured a decent total after India was reduced to 115 for eight at one stage. His 62-run ninth-wicket stand with Kuldeep Yadav (19) was the saving grace for India in an otherwise disappointing batting performance.
Before Jadeja, it was Hardik Pandya (30 off 37 balls) who added 38 with M.S. Dhoni (17 off 42 balls) for the fifth wicket. Dhoni’s stay at the crease was cut short by Tim Southee who had him caught at short mid-wicket while trying to give the bowler the charge.
Neesham strikes twice
Jimmy Neesham (three for 26) dismissed Hardik with a delivery that moved a shade, inducing an edge.
Hardik, promoted ahead of Dhoni, showed positive intent and struck six boundaries.
Dinesh Karthik fell in the same over, flicking a half-volley straight to fine-leg, and it was Jadeja who resurrected the innings with Kuldeep for company.
When New Zealand batted, Jasprit Bumrah (4-2-2-1) bowled a testing first spell and Mohammed Shami (4-0-16-0), too, found the right length. That were the only positives for Kohli & Co. in this game.
Scoreboard:
INDIA
Rohit Sharma lbw b Boult 2 ( 6b ), Shikhar Dhawan c Blundell b Boult 2 ( 7b ), Virat Kohli b de Grandhomme 18 ( 24b, 3x4 ), K.L. Rahul b Boult 6 ( 10b, 1x4 ), Hardik Pandya c Blundell b Neesham 30 ( 37b, 6x4 ), M.S. Dhoni c Neesham b Southee 17 ( 42b, 1x4 ), Dinesh Karthik c Sodhi b Neesham 4 ( 3b, 1x4 ), Ravindra Jadeja c Guptill b Ferguson 54 ( 50b, 6x4, 2x6 ), Bhuvneshwar Kumar c Taylor b Neesham 1 ( 17b ), Kuldeep Yadav c&b Boult 19 ( 36b, 2x4 ), Mohammed Shami not out 2 (4b); Extras (b-4, lb-8, w-12): 24; Total (in 39.2 overs): 179.
FALL OF WICKETS
1-3 (Rohit, 1.2 overs), 2-10 (Dhawan, 3.1), 3-24 (Rahul, 5.3), 4-39 (Kohli, 10.3), 5-77 (Hardik, 19.1), 6-81 (Karthik, 19.4), 7-91 (Dhoni, 22.3), 8-115 (Bhuvneshwar, 28.4), 9-177 (Jadeja, 38.1).
NEW ZEALAND BOWLING
Tim Southee 7-0-26-1, Trent Boult 6.2-1-33-4, Colin de Grandhomme 6-0-12-1, Lockie Ferguson 8-0-33-1, James Neesham 6-1-26-3, Mitchell Santner 3-0-19-0, Ish Sodhi 3-0-18-0.
NEW ZEALAND
Martin Guptil c Rahul b Pandya 22 ( 28b, 3x4 ), Colin Munro lbw b Bumrah 4 ( 3b, 1x4 ), Kane Williamson c Rohit b Chahal 67 ( 87b, 6x4, 1x6 ), Ross Taylor c Kohli b Jadeja 71 ( 75b, 8x4 ), Henry Nicholls not out 15 ( 28b, 1x4 ), Tom Blundell not out 0 ( 2b ); Extras (lb-1): 1; Total (for four wkts. in 37.1 overs): 180.
FALL OF WICKETS
1-8 (Munro, 1.4 overs), 2-37 (Guptill, 9.4), 3-151 (Williamson, 29.5), 4-179 (Taylor, 36.4).
INDIA BOWLING
Bhuvneshwar 4-0-27-0, Bumrah 4-2-2-1, Shami 4-0-16-0, Hardik 4-0-26-1, Chahal-6-0-37-1, Kuldeep 8.1-0-44-0, Jadeja 7-0-27-1.
Toss: India.
New Zealand won by six wickets with 77 balls remaining .
