It was a Tuesday of slow runs, damp weather and the long wait. Under grim skies that made illuminated floodlights a mandatory accessory to the World Cup semifinal, India tightened the screws on New Zealand.
Old Trafford’s dry pitch was on the slower side and the niggardly Men in Blue restricted the Black Caps to 211 for five in 46.1 overs when a steady drizzle gained strength and forced umpires Richard Illingworth and Richard Kettleborough to stop play at 2 p.m. local time.
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The rains that wavered between the feathery drops and the insistent pitter-patter, continued unabated till 4.15 p.m. when the sun grudgingly peeped out. While the match officials hoped for an extended dry phase so that India could commence an abridged chase with a revised target based on the Duckworth-Lewis Method, a fresh wet spell just as the umpires were inspecting the turf at 6.10 p.m., affected revival-plans and it was decided to resume the face-off on Wednesday, which is the reserve day.
Preview
A formidable Indian top-order, led by tournament top-scorer Rohit Sharma, will be taking fresh guard in its quest for two good days but a plucky New Zealand seam attack will be ready and waiting to plough down the corridor of its uncertainties during the World Cup semifinal in Manchester on Tuesday.
It has been a campaign in which Virat Kohli’s men have been successfully able to hide their chinks even without a suitable ‘Plan B’ but it now boils down to having two days and they don’t have an option of letting the script go awry.
The sub-plots promise to be fascinating — Rohit trying to hook a Lockie Ferguson bouncer, KL Rahul negotiating one from Trent Boult that could veer in, Kohli smashing Matt Henry all around.
Bumrah basically unplayable at this stage, says Vettori
Former captain Daniel Vettori believes Jasprit Bumrah is “basically unplayable at this stage” and has urged New Zealand to steer clear of the Indian speedster when the two sides clash in the first semifinal in Manchester on Tuesday.
Bumrah has emerged as India’s leading wicket-taker in the tournament with 17 wickets in eight games as India looked in top form, winning seven games and losing just one against England.
“England against India at Edgbaston probably showed New Zealand the way to approach setting a big total. Jasprit Bumrah is basically unplayable at this stage, and against England he was his usual economical self. But despite that, England targeted everyone else,” Vettori wrote in his column for the ICC.
Coach hopes Ferguson will make the difference
Lockie Ferguson is in “good shape” and expected to play in the World Cup semifinals, said New Zealand coach Gary Stead, who has put his faith on the tearaway quick to make the difference against India on Tuesday.
Ferguson, who has emerged as New Zealand’s leading wicket-taker in the tournament, had missed their last league match against hosts England at Chester-le-Street due to a hamstring strain.
“I absolutely expect Lockie to play. If the last game was a semifinal or final, we probably would have played him, so it was more a precautionary measure not to play him,” Stead told reporters.
“He definitely had some hamstring tightness and he needed 48 hours for that to settle down. He’s in good shape and barring getting through the next couple of days, then I expect him to play.”
One player who delivers during the tipping-point moments
Strong teams seize the tipping-point moments and always have a player who delivers a critical performance. India did that all through the World Cup, though there was a blip against England. The triumph over Sri Lanka at Headingley in Leeds on Saturday falls into the template of unerring dominance.
The cricketers from beyond the Palk Strait revived themselves through a ton from Angelo Mathews, but Virat Kohli’s men never slackened. And when it was time to chase, openers Rohit Sharma and K.L. Rahul struck centuries and sealed the contest.
Rohit has a template: Sanjay Bangar
Sanjay Bangar stressed that India is in a good space and primed to perform in the World Cup semifinal. He praised Rohit Sharma’s consistency and also backed the middle-order. India’s batting coach spoke at Headingley here on Saturday after Virat Kohli’s men defeated Sri Lanka by seven wickets.
Bumrah will be key for India, says Srikkanth
Former skipper Krish Srikkanth believes the leader of the Indian bowling attack, Jasprit Bumrah, will be their key player in the World Cup semifinal against New Zealand in Manchester on Tuesday.
“Looking ahead to the semifinal, Bumrah is going to be a key man for Virat Kohli. India are lucky to have someone with the ability to take wickets with the new ball, come back later and break a partnership if needed, and then to restrict at the death,” Srikanth wrote in his column for ICC.
The 59-year-old said Bumrah is someone who not only contributes with wickets but also can put the brakes on opposition’s scoring rate.
Go with both wrist-spinners: Kumble
India should field both its wrist-spinners in Tuesday’s semifinal clash against New Zealand, believes Anil Kumble. Yuzvendra Chahal was rested from India’s meeting with Sri Lanka while Kuldeep Yadav was left out of the side that faced Bangladesh. Kumble, though, is in favour of deploying both against the Kiwis. “If it was England in the semifinals, you would have thought differently. But since it’s New Zealand, I’d certainly go with both,” he told The Hindu here on Sunday.
Virat Kohli seemingly has another difficult decision to make in Manchester, in having to choose between Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami. Kumble would prefer to see the latter in action. “If you have a slow pitch at Old Trafford, then maybe Bhuvi, but otherwise my five bowlers will be the five attacking options,” he said. “Shami has been brilliant. Jasprit Bumrah has been exceptional whenever he’s come on to bowl. Hardik Pandya has been really good, giving 10 overs consistently. So these would be my best three seamers, to go with the two wrist-spinners.”
