India v NZ, 4th ODI Preview: India aiming for a whitewash ahead of fourth match against New Zealand
India is aiming to plot New Zealand’s downfall in the fourth ODI at Bangalore as they extend their dominance over Daniel Vettori’s men and build towards the 2011 Cricket World Cup that is to be staged in the subcontinent and scheduled
to kick-off with an India-Bangladesh clash on February 19.
The hosts have won the first three matches of the series to take an unassailable lead in the five-match series that was being billed as a rehearsal for the premier tournament that is rated as the flagship event of the ICC.
A buoyant captain of the Indian team http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Gautam-Gambhir-c58623, who has scored two hundreds in consecutive matches without being dismissed, claimed that he was eying a whitewash against the hapless opponents that have been defeated comprehensively
in the first part of the series.
He added that the squad was concentrating upon inflicting a whitewash and hence all efforts would be made to dismantle the beleaguered opposition. New Zealand have struggled to withstand the onslaught from literally a second-string
Indian team that is missing some of the leading players of the country who are busy preparing for the tour of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757.
"Our target is to win all five games," Gambhir said ahead of Tuesday's match in Bangalore. "The team that plays better cricket for 100 overs will win. We are looking forward to performing well and hopefully we will keep the momentum
going. We need to maintain the same intensity with which we played the first three matches."
"The bowlers have done well in all the matches, even in conditions that varied," he added. "Whether the flat tracks in Jaipur or the seaming wicket in Vadodara, they have done well for us. Bowlers deserve the
maximum credit for us winning the series.
"It is an international game and we need to field the best team. It is not like that we have won the series and we will be taking things lightly.”
On the other hand, New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori is trying to boost the sagging spirits of a team that is going thorough one of the leanest periods in its cricketing history.
The Black Caps had plummeted to new depths on their tour of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bangladesh-c747 that preceded the Indian tour; they lost the ODI series there 4-0 and are still reeling from that shock.
The current tour has been equally disappointing, especially after a bright start in the first two Test matches.
The ODI series has seen their worst form: they have failed to score enough runs and the bowling line-up resembles that of a club side as it struggles to control the free flowing local batsmen.
Despite the drubbing, Vettori remains upbeat about his team’s chances of avoiding a whitewash.
"We need a couple of top-order batsmen coming good in the next two matches. What we have to do tomorrow is be clear in our minds and perform the roles we need to do.
"The reasons for the three-match drubbing are relatively simple and unfortunate. We failed to post enough runs on the board by trying different things. We did not put pressure on the Indian batsmen. In this part
of the world you need to go harder with the ball and make it straight."
After the tour of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 to tackle at home in a three-T20, two-Tests and six-ODI series. The series would be their last before the World Cup and they would be hoping that the
bitter experiences of the subcontinent would hold them in good stead when they start their campaign in the premier tournament.
In the meantime, they have to try their utmost to stem the rot at Bangalore, which is a formidable task in itself.
Tags: