Astle's ton inspires New Zealand to crushing 84-run win over India
Charlie Austin - 20 July 2001
New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming reasoned after his team's 16-run
defeat by Sri Lanka that, though the Black Caps' performance was
unacceptable, they had at least drawn a line in the sand. Today, in
their second game of the Coca-Cola Cup, they drew a line in
unchartered territories in what Fleming described as the best one-day
performance of his captaincy.
The Black Caps pulled off an expected and absolutely resounding
victory over India, eventually winning the game by 84 runs after
bowling out India for just 127 under the bright glare of the Premadasa
International Stadium floodlights, on a reused pitch that deteriorated
markedly in the Indian innings.
India, however, had looked the likely winners at the half way mark
having restricted New Zealand to 211 in their 50 overs. But a fine
opening spell by Darryl Tuffey (7-2-7-1) and a devastating three
wicket burst from Dion Nash, making a return from injury after ten
months on the sidelines, reduced India to 50 for five.
Tendulkar's replacement, Yuvraj Singh, started the rot when he was
trapped lbw in the fourth over of the innings. Two overs later, with
the score still on 13, Indian captain Sourav Ganguly was well caught
at backward point by Chris Harris as he mistimed a back foot drive.
The run scoring slowed and in the first 10 overs India had scored just
21 runs. It was Nash that swung the match decisively towards New
Zealand. Brought on in the sixteenth over of the innings he dismissed
key batsmen Rahul Dravid in his second over, as the consistent right-
hander was caught in the covers off a leading edge.
Four overs later Hemang Badani slashed at a delivery from Nash and was
caught behind by Adam Parore. Virender Sehwag lasted just three
deliveries before he was surprised by some extra bounce and was caught
in the gully by Chris Harris.
Whilst Venkatasai Laxman remained at the crease the Indians still
retained hopes of a victory and he was joined by the audacious
Ritender Sodhi, who had fielded superbly earlier in the day and
clumped one resounding six in his 18-run innings.
Laxman went on to score 60 from 102 balls and added 38 runs with
Sodhi, but both batsmen struggled to score freely, as Stephen Fleming
sensibly rotated his slower bowlers - Daniel Vettori, Chris Harris and
Nathan Astle. All the while the biscuit dry surface crumbled making it
harder and harder to time the ball.
Eventually the innings subsided as the pressure finally told. Laxman
was caught by Harris in Vettori's second spell and Indian lost their
last four wickets for eight runs as Harris mopped up the tail.
The woeful batting of the Indians highlighted just how good an innings
had been played by Nathan Astle earlier in the day. The compact opener
scored 117 and was two balls short of batting out the entire innings.
It was a chanceless innings, though he did enjoy one moment of
outrageous luck when he played the ball on to the base for his stumps.
The bails wavered, but didn't fall and he never looked back.
Once he had played himself he was the only batsman to play the Indian
spinners confidently, twice lofting them straight down the ground. He
scored nine fours and one six, which was more than in the entire
Indian innings.
No other Kiwi batsmen settled and Stephen Fleming was the next highest
scorer with 25, as Ganguly rotated his slower bowlers too, even
employing the part-time left arm orthodox of Yuvraj Singh and Badani.
The spinners bowled 33 overs in the innings.
Harbhajan Singh was the pick of the Indian bowlers, picking up two for
25 from his ten overs, including the key wickets of Fleming, caught at
slip, ending a 70-run second wicket partnership, and Lou Vincent, who
top edged a sweep to short fine leg.
Speaking afterwards Fleming said: "That was a great victory. Some of
the things done in that game, including that tremendous hundred from
Astle, were outstanding. I would go as far as to say that was the best
performance by the one-day side whilst I have been captain.
"I originally thought we might be a bit shy of a winning total, but
the number of the players who struggled to time the ball suggested
that it would be difficult to score the runs," he said.
"The pressure all came from the opening bowlers doing their job," he
believed. "Dion Nash's spell was then instrumental in winning the
match. He had a huge impact on the side and it's great to have him
back."
Ganguly now has just two days to raise the morale of his players. It
will be difficult after such a comprehensive defeat, especially
without the services of Sachin Tendulkar, who was dearly missed today.
India's next game is against Sri Lanka on Sunday. They can at least
look forward to a new pitch.
© CricInfo
Teams
|
India,
New Zealand.
|
Players/Umpires
|
Stephen Fleming,
Daryl Tuffey,
Dion Nash,
Sachin Tendulkar,
Yuvraj Singh,
Sourav Ganguly,
Rahul Dravid,
Virender Shewag,
VVS Laxman,
Reetinder Sodhi,
Nathan Astle,
Harbhajan Singh.
|
Tournaments
|
Coca-Cola Cup (Sri Lanka) |
Scorecard
|
2nd Match: India v New Zealand, 20 Jul 2001 |