ICC World Cup 2011 warm-up match: India defeat New Zealand
Co-hosts of the ICC World Cup 2011 look to be in good shape heading into the tournament. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 won their 2nd warm up game, as they thrashed New Zealand comprehensively at Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
India had earlier beaten http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 in their first warm up game. The interesting thing about the two wins for India is that, it was their bowling that won them the first game. Whereas it was their batting that knocked New Zealand out of the match halfway
through the game.
Batting first, India posted a mammoth total of 360 runs, and in reply New Zealand could only manage 243 runs.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and chose to make first use of a flat Chennai pitch. Sachin Tendulkar and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Virender-Sehwag-c95429 came out to open the innings for India. The two right-handers started well and in their typical manner slashed hard at anything slightly
wide or short.
India’s first wicket partnership was worth 35 runs. Sachin was the first man to go. He was bowled by Tim Southee for 17 runs. Next man in was Gautham Gambhir, the left hander, who normally opens with Virender Sehwag.
Gambhir looked in good form and started positively. Sehwag was dismissed at 23 runs. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Virat-Kohli-c95424 the former Under-19 captain for India, who has been in good touch recently, continued his good run of form.
Kohli and Gambhir added 106 runs for the 3rd wicket and gave the Indian innings some stability. Kohli was dismissed for 59 runs. He was caught behind off the bowling of Jacob Oram.
Next man in was skipper, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mahendra-Singh-Dhoni-c73820, continued to score freely. Dhoni was looking at his devastating best. Gambhir and Dhoni added a quick 68 runs together, and Gambhir was dismissed by Tim Southee for 89 runs.
Suresh Raina, the man out of form, came in next and joined Dhoni. Raina found his form and looked in good knick, he andDhoni added 124 runs together. But it was the rate at which the two scored that was more devastating.
In the final ten overs, the two batsmen took the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 attack apart. Dhoni was unbeaten on 108 and Raina made 50, as India posted a huge total of 360 for New Zealand to chase down.
New Zealand’s reply started well. Martin Guptill and Brendon McCullum put on 94 runs for the first wicket. Guptill was the first to be dismissed for 38 runs. He was dismissed by off-spinner Ravi Ashwin. Brendon McCullum also followed soon, he was run out
for 58.
Jessi Ryder came in at number three and held up one end. But the next two, Ross http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Taylor-c92915, and, James Franklin, both left for 5 and naught respectively. Jessi Ryder was also dismissed for 32 runs. New Zealand were unable to put together any partnerships and
the required rate was going higher with every over.
Scott Styris tried hard to get some big shots in but he was dismissed for 20 runs, he was cleaned up by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Piyush-c82317 Chawla. Wickets kept tumbling and Jamie How and Jacob Oram left for 15 and 12 runs respectively. Nathan McCullum did play some big shots but it
was too little too late. Black Caps were bowled out for 243 runs and India won the game by a massive margin of 117 runs.
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