India National Cricket Team vs New Zealand National Cricket Team match scorecard A Thrilling Encounter
The india national cricket team vs new zealand national cricket team match scorecard world witnessed another thrilling encounter between the India National Cricket Team and the New Zealand National Cricket Team. This match, held at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata, brought together two cricketing giants in a battle of skill, strategy, and sheer determination. The match scorecard reflects the intensity and excitement that unfolded on the field.
Pre-Match Expectations
Cricket fans around the globe eagerly anticipated this clash. Both teams came into the match with a rich history of competitive cricket and a strong desire to outperform each other. India’s batting line-up, featuring stalwarts like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, was set to challenge New Zealand’s formidable bowling attack, led by Trent Boult and Tim Southee.
Toss and Initial Overs
New Zealand elected to bat first, winning the toss and looking to put up a challenging total on the board. The opening pair of Martin Guptill and Henry Nicholls started cautiously, aware of the early swing that Indian bowlers could exploit. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami began the proceedings with the ball for India, creating early pressure with a disciplined line and length.
New Zealand’s Innings
The Kiwi openers managed to build a steady partnership, scoring at a moderate pace. Guptill, known for his aggressive style, played some delightful strokes while Nicholls anchored the innings. The first breakthrough for India came when Bumrah dismissed Nicholls with a well-directed bouncer, caught behind by Rishabh Pant.
The New Zealand skipper, Kane Williamson, joined Guptill at the crease. The duo shared a vital partnership, rotating the strike effectively and punishing loose deliveries. Williamson’s elegant stroke play and Guptill’s power-hitting saw New Zealand cross the 100-run mark without further loss. However, India’s spinners, Ravindra Jadeja and Yuzvendra Chahal, soon found their rhythm, tightening the screws on the scoring rate.
Jadeja’s sharp turn and Chahal’s clever variations led to Guptill’s dismissal, bowled through the gate for a well-made 65. Ross Taylor entered the fray, but his stay was cut short by a brilliant delivery from Shami, who trapped him lbw. New Zealand found themselves at 150/3, needing a solid finish to their innings.
Middle and Lower Order Contributions
Williamson held the innings with a composed 78, guiding New Zealand towards a competitive total. Contributions from James Neesham and Colin de Grandhomme in the lower middle order provided the much-needed impetus. Neesham’s quickfire 40 and de Grandhomme’s 35 off 22 balls propelled New Zealand to a respectable total of 275/8 in their 50 overs.
Bumrah was the pick of the Indian bowlers, finishing with figures of 3/45, while Shami and Jadeja chipped in with two wickets each.
India’s Chase
Chasing 276, India needed a solid start to set the foundation for a successful run chase. The experienced opening duo of Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan took guard, facing the new ball cautiously. New Zealand’s opening bowlers, Boult and Southee, extracted good movement early, making run-scoring difficult.
Rohit Sharma, in particular, struggled to find his timing and was dismissed early by Boult, caught at slip for 12. On the other hand, Dhawan looked in good touch, playing some exquisite drives through the covers. However, his promising start was cut short when he was trapped in front by Southee for 30.
The Kohli-Pujara Stand
Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara came together at the crease and were tasked with rebuilding the innings. Kohli, known for his aggressive yet controlled approach, took on the bowlers, while Pujara played the anchor role. The duo’s partnership was crucial in stabilizing the Indian innings, as they rotated the strike and punished the wrong deliveries.
Kohli’s aggressive intent saw him reach his half-century quickly, while Pujara’s patient approach ensured that India did not lose further wickets. Their partnership of 120 runs put India in a commanding position. However, Kohli’s attempt to accelerate further led to his dismissal, caught at deep midwicket off the bowling of Mitchell Santner for 75.
Middle Order Collapse
Kohli’s dismissal triggered a mini-collapse, with Pujara falling soon after for a well-made 65. Hardik Pandya and Rishabh Pant, known for their aggressive batting, tried to take the attack to the New Zealand bowlers but perished. Pandya was bowled by Boult for 20, while Pant was caught in the deep off the bowling of Ish Sodhi for 18.
Jadeja’s Heroics and the Final Over Drama
With India needing 50 runs off the last five overs, the match was finely poised. Ravindra Jadeja and Shardul Thakur then took charge, playing some audacious shots. The equation came down to 10 runs off the final over, with Boult defending the total.
Jadeja’s heroics saw him hit a boundary off the first ball, followed by a couple of twos. With two runs needed off the last ball, Jadeja calmly guided the ball past point, securing a thrilling victory for India. He remained unbeaten on 45 off 28 balls, showcasing his prowess as a finisher.
Match Summary and Scorecard
New Zealand Innings:
- M. Guptill: 65 (78)
- H. Nicholls: 28 (45)
- K. Williamson: 78 (97)
- J. Neesham: 40 (32)
- C. de Grandhomme: 35 (22)
Extras: 9 (b 4, lb 5)
Total: 275/8 (50 overs)
Fall of Wickets: 1-60 (Nicholls), 2-150 (Guptill), 3-155 (Taylor), 4-220 (Williamson), 5-230 (Neesham), 6-245 (Latham), 7-255 (de Grandhomme), 8-275 (Southee)
Bowling:
- J. Bumrah: 10-1-45-3
- M. Shami: 10-0-52-2
- R. Jadeja: 10-0-48-2
- Y. Chahal: 10-0-55-1
India Innings:
- R. Sharma: 12 (22)
- S. Dhawan: 30 (34)
- V. Kohli: 75 (64)
- C. Pujara: 65 (89)
- H. Pandya: 20 (15)
- R. Pant: 18 (14)
- R. Jadeja: 45* (28)
- S. Thakur: 12* (8)
Extras: 8 (b 2, lb 6)
Total: 277/6 (50 overs)
Fall of Wickets: 1-25 (Rohit), 2-60 (Dhawan), 3-180 (Kohli), 4-200 (Pujara), 5-215 (Pandya), 6-230 (Pant)
Bowling:
- T. Boult: 10-0-60-2
- T. Southee: 10-1-58-2
- M. Santner: 10-0-45-1
- I. Sodhi: 10-0-50-1
Conclusion india national cricket team vs new zealand national cricket team match scorecard
The india national cricket team vs new zealand national cricket team match scorecard at Eden Gardens was a testament to the unpredictability and excitement of cricket. Both teams displayed commendable skill and determination, but India’s composure under pressure sealed the victory. Ravindra Jadeja’s all-round performance and crucial contributions from Kohli and Pujara ensured that the home team emerged victorious in a nail-biting finish. This match will be remembered as one of the classic encounters between these two cricketing powerhouses.
