Chasing a rain reduced target of 216 runs to win in 28 overs, New Zealand fell short by 53 runs to hand over India their first win of the tour. When rain interrupted the game during New Zealand chase, New Zealand was 111/4 in 20.5 overs. But after resumption they get huge task of chasing 105 runs in 43 balls. There impossible looking run chase begin badly as they lost J.Oram on the very first ball bowled by Yuvraj Singh after rain interruption to reduce New Zeland score to 111/5 at the end of 21 over.
Two over later Harbhajan Singh picked up three wickets in the space of four deliveries to destroy any hopes of New Zealand to reaching the target. First he removed dangerous looking new talent of New Zeland M.Guptill (64 runs of 70 balls), then N.Broom (2 runs of 7 balls) and finally K.Mills out for duck to handover Harbhajan his third wicket of the over.
Earlier with the help of M.S.Dhoni (84 runs of 89 balls) and S.Raina (66 runs of 39 balls), IndiaMcCleanPark, Napier. able to post a mammoth total of 273/4 in a rain reduced 38 overs game at
Sachin Tendulkar and V.Sehwag started well and put on 22 runs in 4.1 overs when rain arrives. However after a long wait of 2 hours weather cleared and finally fans present at the ground able to see some power hitting by Sehwag. Due to bad weather match is reduce to 38 overs a side, with three bowlers can bowl eight overs, and two bowlers can bowl maximum of seven overs. Powerplay one will be for eight overs, Powerplay two will be for four overs and Batting Powerplay can be taken for three overs.
Sachin Tendulkar (20 runs of 23 balls) after making good start and putting 69 runs in 9.4 overs for the first wicket gou out on the bowling of I.Butler, when he tried to play a chicky shot. M.S.Dhoni who promoted himself at number three played a patience inning at start and put on 52 runs for the second wicket. On the other end Virendra Sehwag looking in superb nick but New Zealnd got him out at the right time with superb catch by R.Taylor on the bowling of New Zealand skipper D.Vettori. Yuvraj singh also got run out and India lost two wickets in quick succession.
But Suresh Raina and M.S.Dhoni partnership of 110 runs in just 74 balls to helped India to post a massive total of 273/4 in just 38 overs. Suresh Raina looks in prime form and was in full flow right from ball one. In his inning of 66 runs of 39 balls he hit four huge sixes and five fours. M.S.Dhoni on the other hand played a role of holding one end and made 84 runs of 89 balls with six fours. Suresh Raina got out in the 35th over of Indian inning, but it was too late for kiwis. Yusuf Pathan sues long handle to good effect scoring 20 runs of 10 balls with one huge six and two fours.
M.S.Dhoni was declared Man of the Match for his inning of 84 runs of 89 balls.
Match Summary
India – 273/4 in 38 Overs
M.S.Dhoni- 84*V.Sehwag –77
I.Butler– 8-1-42-1D.Vettori– 8-0-42-1
New Zeland – 162/9 in 28 Overs (Revised target 216 in 28 overs)
