Dhoni powers India to emphatic win over New Zealand
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 outclassed New Zealand by 117 runs in a warm up match ahead of the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup 2011 at Chennai.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MS-Dhoni-c2028 led his team from the front with a stunning hundred to help boost the morale of his side ahead of the mega event. India are considered favourites for the upcoming tournament and they played like title contenders in their final warm up game before
the World Cup, which officially begins on Saturday. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 on the other were in desperate need of a win as they have had a pathetic run in international cricket for the last six months.
At the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, Dhoni won the toss and elected to bat first on a track that was perfect for stroke-play, though it was offering some bounce to the fast bowlers.
Sachin Tendulkar and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Virender-Sehwag-c95429 got the hosts off to a good start but they soon lost their way as the openers failed to capitalise on their starts. However, an emphatic partnership between the Indian captain and Suresh Raina, helped India post a mammoth
total of 360 runs on the board for the loss of five wickets in their allotted 50 overs.
MS Dhoni played a captains knock and remained unbeaten on 108 runs which came off just 64 balls and included 11 fours and 4 massive sixes. Of late Dhoni has been criticised for not playing his natural game but this innings reminded cricket fans just how
devastating he could be.
Suresh Raina also rediscovered his form with a gutsy half-century off only 26 balls, which included 4 fours and 3 towering sixes. Both of them put together 124 runs for the fifth wicket partnership which came off only 56 balls. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Virat-Kohli-c95424
scored 89 and 59 runs respectively to get some runs under their belt before the world cup.
None of the Kiwi bowlers were able to make an impression against the Indian batsmen. However, Tim Southee and Jacob Oram managed to pick up a couple of victims to halt India's progress.
Chasing a huge score to win the match, New Zealand got off to a good start through Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill, but lost their way with the introduction of spin. The Kiwis lost wickets at regular intervals and failed to counter the Indian spinners
on a pitch that was offering a lot of turn in the later stages of the match. As a result the Kiwis were bowled out for 243 runs in the 44th over of the innings.
Brendon McCullum remained the top scorer for the Black Caps with 58 runs off just 54 balls, which included seven boundaries. Yuvraj Singh, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ashish-Nehra-c46293 claimed a couple of scalps each to dismantle the Kiwi batting lineup.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Gary-Kirsten-c58527 and the Indian support staff will be very happy with their team’s preparations for the mega event, as this is a golden opportunity for India to be crowned world champions on home soil.
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