Rain leaves India, NZ D(hon)isappointed

While India made no changes to their playing eleven, New Zealand made just one change to the eleven that last played the Indians – Neil Broom made way for One-day International debutant Peter McGlashan.

On winning the toss, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, India’s skipper, chose to bat. Their openers put on 50 off 7.2 overs (44 balls). New Zealand had conceded an extra at that point. While Virender Sehwag’s contribution to the partnership was 41, Sachin Tendulkar’s contribution to it was nine.

Sehwag’s half-century – which included nine boundaries and a six – came off 32 balls. He faced 36 balls, eventually scoring 54. Seventy-five balls into the match, he was caught by McGlashan. Ian Butler broke the 76-run partnership.

The second Powerplay of India’s innings was between the 14^th and the 17^th over. Fifteen overs into the match, the first drinks break was taken. India had scored 96 for the loss of a wicket at that point. While Tendulkar was batting on 34, Gautam Gambhir was batting on four.

India scored 100 off 16 overs (99 balls). New Zealand had conceded four extras at that point. Tendulkar’s half-century – which included half-a-dozen boundaries and a six – came off 57 balls.

India’s second-wicket pair put on 50 off 38 balls. New Zealand had conceded an extra at that point. While Tendulkar’s contribution to the partnership was 39, Gambhir’s contribution to it was a dozen.

Nineteen overs into the match, there was an interruption due to rain. India had scored 130 for the loss of a wicket at that point. While Tendulkar was batting on 59, Gambhir was batting on 13. The match was reduced to 44-overs-a-side.

Tendulkar, whose 69-ball innings included seven boundaries, in addition to the six, eventually scored 61. Fifty-four balls after Sehwag’s dismissal, he was trapped leg before wicket by Daniel Vettori, New Zealand’s skipper, who broke the 63-run partnership.

Yuvraj Singh, who faced four balls, failed to get off the mark. Half-a-dozen balls later, he was caught by Ross Taylor. Kyle Mills broke the three-run stand.

India scored 150 off 23.4 overs (146 balls). New Zealand had conceded half-a-dozen extras at that point.

Twenty-four overs into the match, there was another interruption due to rain. India had scored 151 for the loss of three wickets at that point. While Gambhir was batting on 28, Dhoni was batting on a couple. The match was reduced to 34-overs-a-side.

The third Powerplay of India’s innings was between the 26^th and the 28^th over. Gambhir, whose 36-ball innings included a couple of boundaries, eventually scored 30. Twenty-three balls after Yuvraj’s dismissal, he was caught by Grant Elliott. Iain O’Brien broke the 24-run stand.

A hundred and seventy-two balls into the match, there was yet another interruption due to rain. India had scored 188 for the loss of four wickets at that point. The man from Ranchi, whose (Dho)nineteen-ball innings included a couple of boundaries, was batting on 23.

Suresh Raina, whose eight-ball innings included a couple of boundaries, was batting on 13.

The number of extras New Zealand eventually conceded gave them no reason to be in seventh heaven. India had scored 188 for the loss of four wickets off 28.4 overs. Jesse Ryder, who bowled 1.4 overs, conceded 14. He was wicketless, as was Jacob Oram, who bowled four overs, conceding 29.

Vettori, who bowled three overs, conceded 14. He picked up a wicket. O’Brien, who bowled half-a-dozen overs, conceded 44. He picked up a wicket. Mills and Butler bowled seven overs each, picking up a scalp apiece. While the former conceded 46, the latter conceded 38.

The match ended without a result, and India led the five-match series 1-0.