A nine-run victory over tournament favourites India in their opening ICC World Twenty20 warm up match at Lord’s has kick-started the BLACKCAPS’ preparation for the tournament.
It was a brisk start by the BLACKCAPS who were put into bat after India won the toss. Brendon McCullum made an aggressive 31 off 19 balls before attempting an extravagant flick shot and getting caught at mid-on.
The loss of Jesse Ryder (2), Martin Guptill (10) and Jacob Oram (5) didn’t stop the flow of runs, however, as Ross Taylor continued his fine run of form hitting with 41 off 33 balls including three fours and two sixes – one sailing right out of the ground.
Scott Styris was also in good touch striking 29 from 19 balls before becoming Ishant Sharma’s fourth victim. Sharma, the best of the Indian bowlers finished with 4-25 off his four overs.
Late cameos from Nathan McCullum who hit 18 off 14 runs and James Franklin who blasted 27 off 10 balls – including two sixes and a four from the final over – ensured the New Zealanders secured a competitive total of 170.
India chased hard from the outset with opener Rohit Sharma smashing 36 off 20 balls.
Gautam Gambhir and MS Dhoni were dismissed cheaply but Suresh Raina and Ravindra Jadeja combined to put on 69 for the fourth wicket – and India were looking to be on top at 126-3.
The introduction of Jacob Oram, who dismissed Raina for 45, and a stunning caught and bowled from Daniel Vettori the following over, swung the momentum back the BLACKCAPS way.
Tight bowling in the final overs from Butler and Oram kept the Indian batsmen tied down, and New Zealand went on to win the match by nine runs.
Daniel Vettori was the best of the BLACKCAPS attack taking 3-24 including the prize wicket of Indian captain MS Dhoni.
Top-scoring batsman Ross Taylor said the win provides a good boost to the team – and may have some people rethinking the BLACKCAPS underdog status.
“Momentum is a big thing in Twenty20 cricket – even if it is a warm-up game it’s very important,” Taylor said.
“Reading a few papers nobody’s really mentioned us too much – we’re slipping under the radar a bit. Winning this game, we might be talked about a bit more.
“We know that we’re a good side and that we can play competitive cricket. We’ve made semi-finals in the past, but still no-one really talks about us. We’re happy about that and hopefully we can prove a few people wrong.”
The BLACKCAPS play another warm up match against Australia on 2 June (UK time).
Their first competition match in the world Twenty20 is against Scotland on Saturday 6 June.
It was a brisk start by the BLACKCAPS who were put into bat after India won the toss. Brendon McCullum made an aggressive 31 off 19 balls before attempting an extravagant flick shot and getting caught at mid-on.
The loss of Jesse Ryder (2), Martin Guptill (10) and Jacob Oram (5) didn’t stop the flow of runs, however, as Ross Taylor continued his fine run of form hitting with 41 off 33 balls including three fours and two sixes – one sailing right out of the ground.
Scott Styris was also in good touch striking 29 from 19 balls before becoming Ishant Sharma’s fourth victim. Sharma, the best of the Indian bowlers finished with 4-25 off his four overs.
Late cameos from Nathan McCullum who hit 18 off 14 runs and James Franklin who blasted 27 off 10 balls – including two sixes and a four from the final over – ensured the New Zealanders secured a competitive total of 170.
India chased hard from the outset with opener Rohit Sharma smashing 36 off 20 balls.
Gautam Gambhir and MS Dhoni were dismissed cheaply but Suresh Raina and Ravindra Jadeja combined to put on 69 for the fourth wicket – and India were looking to be on top at 126-3.
The introduction of Jacob Oram, who dismissed Raina for 45, and a stunning caught and bowled from Daniel Vettori the following over, swung the momentum back the BLACKCAPS way.
Tight bowling in the final overs from Butler and Oram kept the Indian batsmen tied down, and New Zealand went on to win the match by nine runs.
Daniel Vettori was the best of the BLACKCAPS attack taking 3-24 including the prize wicket of Indian captain MS Dhoni.
Top-scoring batsman Ross Taylor said the win provides a good boost to the team – and may have some people rethinking the BLACKCAPS underdog status.
“Momentum is a big thing in Twenty20 cricket – even if it is a warm-up game it’s very important,” Taylor said.
“Reading a few papers nobody’s really mentioned us too much – we’re slipping under the radar a bit. Winning this game, we might be talked about a bit more.
“We know that we’re a good side and that we can play competitive cricket. We’ve made semi-finals in the past, but still no-one really talks about us. We’re happy about that and hopefully we can prove a few people wrong.”
The BLACKCAPS play another warm up match against Australia on 2 June (UK time).
Their first competition match in the world Twenty20 is against Scotland on Saturday 6 June.
