New Zealand compiled 203 in the first game. It was proven quickly, that the total wasn’t enough. India won the first game comprehensively.
Soon, inside a few hours, New Zealand, expected to burst with a turnaround in the Second game, put up just 132 on the board. What was need to be proven anyway? Of course, this wasn’t going to be enough. Not when the Kiwis contest a batting order that includes Kohli, Iyer, Rahul, Jadeja and Sharma – despite seeming a bit short on runs.
In what proved to be another victorious outing for the visitors, there was no end to New Zealand’s struggles. You felt, only the pitch changed. The result didn’t.
What were the key talking points from India vs NZ 2nd T20 2020?
An underpower score wasn’t going to be enough
The Kiwi batting didn’t lag that much at all in the opening game. Yet, what may surely have been frustrating was that Williamson’s side completely failed to defend what was a par-score in the first game, despite having scored in excess of 200. How were they ever going to defend an underwhelming 132?
To ask India to chase down a total, on many an occasion, is itself an ask, the team powered by the ‘chase master’.
Then, to defend an ask of just above 6.5 an over wasn’t going to go New Zealand’s way.
The batsmen struggled to score on a sluggish and at times, slow Eden Park wicket. This isn’t to say that Guptill and Munro didn’t score any runs.
Just that against a tightly controlled exhibition of medium pace bowling, Guptill and Munro were put on the back foot, cramped for room and surprised by bounce.
While Guptill still compiled 33 off 20, Munro, who had just stuck a vital fifty the previous game was curtailed, a nearly run-a-ball 25 (of 26) slowing the Kiwi’s progress.
Among the big talking points from India vs NZ 2nd T20 was the usually expressive and fiery batting stalled thanks to exceptional medium-pacers from India’s line up.
Williamson’s off day at the office
Among the big talking points from India vs NZ 2nd T20 2020 was the early departure of inspirational captain Kane Williamson.
Usually, any side is bolstered by the strong performance of its man-in-charge. Australia has a premier scorer in Smith. Indians thrive on Kohli’s belligerence and New Zealand is powered by Williamson’s grace and promise.
Just that on the much-needed game at Auckland, it wasn’t to be as the captain departed for a lowly 14 off 20 balls.
Central to the fluent right-hander being pushed to the back foot was the sluggish start that NZ openers had struggled with. Then, it didn’t help that Jadeja- bowling as good as he’s ever done in recent times- was just as effective as Shami and Bumrah.
Williamson was offered a relatively flighted one down his legs, a ball he accepted thankfully with an intention to guide it down deep square leg- his zone- only for it to land into Chahal’s hands. It was bread and butter in the end for India, not so much for Williamson.
Shami and Bumrah’s heroics
While the most economical bowler of the day was Ravindra Jadeja- 4 overs, 18 runs, 2 wickets- one wonders had it not been for the cunningly accurate spell by medium-pace duo of Shami and Bumrah, would India have succeeded by cramping the Kiwi scoring?
Implicit in India’s comprehensive win was Shami and Bumrah’s successful putting of brakes on early NZ scoring, a facet where the two just didn’t allow Guptill and Munro to have a go.
Using the short ball to good effect, sticking to the good length line whilst completely eliminating any chances of giving anything easy to the batters- such as bowling full- Bumrah and Shami went only for a little over 5 an over.
In so doing, they immediately put NZ scoring under a tight situation, something that put Williamson at 3 under pressure.
Rahul’s consistency
KL Rahul is currently in the form of his life. Fact. Not farce. Not even a fanboy submission. For someone who’s constantly been scoring runs ever since he replaced the injured Dhawan in the Windies series and later, went to blast away the Aussies, Rahul’s successful home run (on sub-continental pitches) has extended to a hot steak that’s on versus the Kiwis.
Not that Williamson’s side would like it that much but how’s it going to matter to India who’ve found in the elegant right hander – a useful keeper and someone who stitches stands when most needed.
KL Rahul & Shreyas Iyer Batting Performance (Pic Credit – DNAINDIA)
If the First game belonged to Shreyas Iyer, then the Second T20 belonged to the man Iyer stitched India’s match winning partnership with – KL Rahul, who notched up 57 useful runs.
That Rahul anchored the run chase beautifully at the start, often seeming circumspect in the beginning, and later expressing himself, was key to his batting, which notched up India’s second win of the series.
The shot of the day, too, belonged to Rahul who played a magnificent late cut off Santner in midst of his useful 86-run stand with Iyer.
Southee was back in rhythm
If there’s something that New Zealand would so desperately want in their next and must-win game then it would be seeing Southee bowl the way he did at Eden Park.
In removing not one but both of India’s senior and sterling figureheads in the batting department, Southee succeeded in putting India under some kind of pressure getting the better of Rohit and later, Kohli.
But among the big highlights of India v NZ 2nd, T20 2020 was the peach of delivery bowled to Rohit Sharma by New Zealand’s most experienced and capable bowler in the current line up.
A ball delivered around the good length zone, carrying a whiff of outswing, Tim Southee succeeded in extracting the outside edge of Sharma, who offered a regulation catch to slip.
It was just the kind of bowling plan that Williamson would want for the Indian line up in even the next game.
And therefore, the team would hope for their premium medium pacer, one who collected 2 wickets and gave only 20 from 3.3 overs, to continue bowling in similar accurate fashion ahead.
For now, all eyes on Wednesday.
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