August 25, 2012

Rain forces early draw of stumps on Day 3

After asking New Zealand to follow on, India picked up the wicket of Martin Guptill before rain forced play on the third day of being abandoned shortly before 3pm. New Zealand were on 41 for one, still 238 runs behind India's first episodes score of 438. New Zealand began their second innings very cautiously, with Brendon McCullum is the image of restraint against spin and pace.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni threw the ball back to Pragyan Ojha, who did most of the sewing and hardness pronounced cherry red. With close fielders surrounding the batsmen, runs were hard to come by. After eight overs of New Zealand had failed to score a run even higher, and was again only when Ojha Guptill lofted over his head and followed it with a shot to force consecutive boundaries made a semblance of normalcy to the return procedures. Guptill, who was left out when Virat Kohli not hold on to a strong possibility of the ravine Ojha, found his luck deserted him soon after. Fill up Ojha, Guptill saw with dismay as Ian Gould, the referee, held a loud shout for LBW. Replays suggested the ball was gripping the surface and could be turned away from losing the stumps, but New Zealand had lost their first wicket with 26 on the board.
Kane Williamson, entering at No. 3, steadied the ship in company McCullum, when rain gave New Zealand a break.
After another delayed start, New Zealand were in trouble early. Kruger van Wyk added just five runs to the overnight 106 for five before being beaten by a little bounce indifferent to being trapped in front of stumps to Umesh Yadav.
Doug Bracewell, who was clearly unhappy to be bound by persistent line and length they bowled Ojha, tried to hit his way out of trouble. Bracewell Ojha was coming early and shorten its length, leaving Dhoni with stumpings easier.
Jeetan Patel then joined Franklin, who was the only batsmen to show some comfort in the crease in the day. Franklin (43 not out) waiting for the ball and most importantly play with soft hands. When the opportunity was there to drive, Franklin gladly accepted, though not out of his way to create scoring opportunities. Patel became the fourth victim R Ashwin, when it launched a drive and only managed to put the ball in the direction of the bowler. Ashwin down and to his left, taking a good catch low down. The umpires consulted and after reviewing replays decided that the catch was taken cleanly.
Trent Boult then made five tickets that Ashwin has outscored Gambhir Gautam under the helmet. Chris Martin, the certificate No. 11, increasing the joy of Ashwin when he could not get behind the line of a delivery that turned away enough to disturb the stumps. Edge of food Ashwin was six for 31, and New Zealand were bowled out for 159, India and quickly decided to execute the continuation.

0 comments:

Post a Comment

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...