 | « Back to article | Print this article |
Images from the World Cup warm-up match between India and New Zealand at the Oval in London on Saturday.
The Indian batting line-up's soft underbelly lay exposed in slightly favourable bowling conditions as New Zealand gave the two-time champions a rude wake-up call, easing to a six-wicket victory in the World Cup warm-up match at the Oval, in London, on Saturday.
Under overcast conditions, left-arm pacer Trent Boult tore through the Indian top order as he took four for 33, to send them crashing for a below-par 179 in 39.2 overs.
It was a walk in the park for the Kiwis as they cruised to the target in only 37.1 overs with Kane Williamson (67) and Ross Taylor (71) helping themselves to half-centuries.
While it was a warm-up game and the outcome of the result isn't something that India would be bothered too much but what certainly would keep them worried is the failure to find a solution for their problems.
KL Rahul failed at No 4, Dinesh Karthik's poor recent form continued while Vijay Shankar and Kedar Jadhav's respective injuries in all likelihood would prevent the team management from checking them out against Bangladesh in the second warm-up game at Cardiff.
The two wrist spinners -- Kuldeep Yadav (0/44 in 8.1 overs) and Yuzvendra Chahal (1/37 in 6 overs), who have gone off the boil in the past few months -- also didn't make much of an impact.
A sub-200 total meant that Williamson and Taylor, during their 114-run stand, hardly took risk against the duo, getting run-a-ball with minimum fuss.
Earlier, Boult grabbed four for 26 in 6.2 overs before Ravindra Jadeja's half-century ensured a 175-plus score for India after they were reduced to 115 for eight at one stage.
Jadeja's 62-run ninth-wicket stand with Kuldeep Yadav (19) was the only saving grace for India in an otherwise disappointing batting performance.
It was Boult's first spell where he removed openers Rohit Sharma (2) and Shikhar Dhawan along with No 4 KL Rahul (6) that proved to be decisive in overcast conditions.
The lack of footwork was evident as Boult trapped Rohit with a delivery that darted in while Dhawan had an inside edge to a delivery that had a shade more bounce. Rahul inside edged it back on to his stumps when Boult got one to rear up.
Skipper Virat Kohli, who made 18, found his defence breached by Colin de Grandhomme's off-cutter trying to play across the line.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni's painful stay at the crease of 17 from 42 balls was cut short by Tim Southee when he was caught at short midwicket trying to give the bowler charge.
Dhoni, who takes time to settle down, not for once looked comfortable and failed to rotate the strike during the partnership.
It was Jimmy Neesham (3/26 in 3 overs), who dismissed Hardik Pandya with a cross-seam delivery that moved a shade inducing an outside edge.
Hardik was promoted ahead of Dhoni in adverse conditions and he showed positive intent with six boundaries.
Dinesh Karthik was gone in the same over, flicking a half-volley straight to fine leg and it was Jadeja (54), who resurrected the innings with Kuldeep for company.