Pathan’s hundred helps http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 take a 4-0 lead in One Day series against New Zealand (Part 1)
Yousaf Pathan made a brilliant 123*, to take his side to a remarkable victory against New Zealand in the 4th One Day International (ODI) of the series.
For India, it is their 4th consecutive victory against New Zealand, and it would give them a great confidence boost for the upcoming World Cup in the Subcontinent. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Gautam-Gambhir-c58623 earlier said that he would like to see Pathan play with the top
batsmen, and it seemed this gamble worked for the Indians in the 4th One Day, as he was able to play a splendid innings for his side.
After his innings of 123*, he would definitely be considered for the World Cup. It was the first hundred by the right hander, and it came at the right time for the Indians. India were chasing a target of 316, and at one stage they were in all sorts of trouble.
Help came from Yousaf Pathan, who blasted his way to 123* runs off 96 balls which also featured 7 sixes.
For New Zealand, it is now a matter of pride as now they have to make sure that they don’t become victims of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/A-White-c41360 wash.
New Zealand started their innings on a positive note, and their openers managed to put a stand of 62 runs for the first wicket. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MJ-Guptill-c1980 and Brendon McCullum managed to give a quick start to the Kiwis, as they were able to hit boundaries in the first 8
overs.
Guptill played well for his 30 and struck 5 boundaries in it. He was playing well, before he gave an easy catch to Yuvraj Singh at cover position off the bowling of Nehra. New Zealand were 62-1, and were successful in getting a good start to their innings.
Two over’s later, New Zealand lost their second wicket, when James How was dismissed by the spinner Ashwin. Brendon McCullum was playing well for the Kiwis, and scored runs whenever he got the opportunity. He struck 8 boundaries including a six off Parveen
Kumar.
Ashwin took his second wicket, when he dismissed McCullum in the 13th over. Scott Styris was the next batsman in for New Zealand, and his presence was vital for New Zealand to give momentum to their innings. Styris along with Taylor managed a
partnership of 79 runs for the 4th wicket, and gave stability to the New Zealand total.
Taylor was a bit slow in his approach and scored 44 runs of 73 balls. Styris was the main contributor in the partnership, and added 46 runs in the partnership. Styris struck 3 boundaries including one six off Yuvraj Singh. At the score of 170, he was dismissed
by Yousaf Pathan, when he was caught on the boundary by Tiwary. It was a good partnership for New Zealand, as it helped them to have a steady foundation in the middle.
After Styris’s dismissal, the real star of New Zealand innings came, and blasted the Indian bowling in the final overs. It was James Franklin, who destroyed the Indian bowling in the last ten overs.
Firstly, he developed a brief partnership of 40 runs with Taylor. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Taylor-c92915 was trapped leg before off the bowling of Ashwin in the 37th over. New Zealand were 210-5 in the 37th over, and had placed themselves in a position where they
could launch themselves to a good total. A partnership of 39 runs developed between Vettori and Frankiln, and it gave steadiness to the kiwi total even further.
The feature of Franklin’s innings was the fact that he played with a lot of responsibility, and did not play any irrational shot. He was intelligent enough to hit boundaries in every second over, and did not allow the run rate to drop.
In the 42nd over, New Zealand lost its 6th wicket, when Vettori was bowled by Yousaf Pathan. Vettori played well for his 17, and also struck two boundaries. One over later, Pathan struck again, when he bowled http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mills-c76321 for just 1 run. Franklin
was left with the lower order and played a fantastic innings to take New Zealand’s total to 315. He hit the pace bowlers all round the wicket for boundaries and also managed runs off the spinners.
Franklin innings reminded everyone how good a batsman he really is. He struck a lot of boundaries in the mid wicket region, and also managed a six off the bowling of Ashwin. The real damage by Franklin was done in the last over, when he scored 22 runs off
Nehra’s bowling. He struck 2 boundaries and 2 sixes in that over, which helped http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 to take their total past the 300 mark.
In the end, New Zealand managed to post a total of 315 from their allotted overs. New Zealand would have been happy to be able to post a decent total on the board, but they expect Yousaf Pathan to make his first century in One Day cricket.
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