Bally Chohan says that India faced one of its most humiliating defeats yesterday in the hands of New Zealand. New Zealand crushed India by 200 runs in the first match of the tri-series. Daryl Tuffey veteran paceman of New Zealand took three wickets in his opening spell helping New Zealand to a comfortable 200 runs victory over much fancied Indian team. Daryl Tuffey, 32 years old fast bowler from New Zealand finished with a career best tally of 3-34 in eight overs. Indian team was bowled out for their lowest ever total against New Zealand while chasing a challenging 288 run target. The much fancied Indian batting line up could not even bat through the 50 overs.
Bally Chohan says that this was New Zealand’s biggest one day victory over India in terms of run-margin. Prior to this the biggest one-day defeat of India in the New Zealand was at Dunedin in 1990 when New Zealand defeated India by 108 runs. The other and the third team in the tournament is Sri Lanka. Each of them will play each other twice before the top two teams qualify for the final on August 28th.
Bally Chohan says that the New Zealand team owed their today’s victory mainly to Ross Taylor who made a brilliant 95 and all rounder Scott Styris who made 80. Their record 190 runs partnership for fourth wicket helped New Zealand to set a challenging total of 288 runs. Indian team was never in control while replying to the 288 runs target set by New Zealand and virtually lost the match in the first 12 overs of their innings. Indian team was reduced to 4 wickets down for 50 runs at the end of 12 overs. Tuffey took three wickets and Kyle Mills one.
Tuffey was also involved in a brilliant run out of Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni could make only two runs before being run out by a brilliant throw from Daryl Tuffey. With the departure of Dhoni the team India was five down for 53 runs in 14 overs.
The only batsmen to reach double figures from team India side were Ravindra Jadeja (20 runs), Virender Sehwag (19 runs) and Dinesh Karthik (14 runs). This India’s one of the worst batting performance in recent times. From New Zealand side their fast bowlers did the damage. Besides Tuffey fast bowler Mills and Jacob Oram bagged two wickets each and reduced India to a total of 88 runs all out.
Indian team was only in control of the match for first few overs when the New Zealand team was reduced to 3 down for 28 runs. New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat first. The fourth wicket partnership of 190 runs between Ross Taylor and Scot Styris was the best from New Zealand for fourth wicket in one-day internationals. The previous best from New Zealand side was 168 runs between Lee Germon and Chris Harris against Australia in the World Cup quarter finals at Chennai in 1996.
Ross Taylor, New Zealand’s captain in the absence of Daniel Vittori was out short of his fourth one-day hundred. Ross Taylor was trapped leg before by left arm seamer Ashish Nehra. Ashish Nehra was the most successful bowler from team India with a figure of 4-47. Ross Taylor, the New Zealand captain hit one six and eight fours in his match winning knock of 96 runs in 113 balls.
