A century with a six
Plays of the Day in the fourth ODI between New Zealand and India in Hamilton
Sidharth Monga
11-Mar-2009
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New Zealanders don't forget
It's been a month and 10 days to the day Neil Broom was bowled during the Chappell-Hadlee series while Brad Haddin seemed to have his gloves in front of the stumps. But they don't forget such incidents in New Zealand. A banner at Seddon Park proclaimed what is still open to debate: "Haddin is a cheat." Just as well they didn't carry character certificates for Greg Dyer and Greg Chappell. The two gentlemen might have been forgotten, but definitely not forgiven.
It's been a month and 10 days to the day Neil Broom was bowled during the Chappell-Hadlee series while Brad Haddin seemed to have his gloves in front of the stumps. But they don't forget such incidents in New Zealand. A banner at Seddon Park proclaimed what is still open to debate: "Haddin is a cheat." Just as well they didn't carry character certificates for Greg Dyer and Greg Chappell. The two gentlemen might have been forgotten, but definitely not forgiven.
Brendon, Jesse and Seddon
Last time Jesse Ryder and Brendon McCullum opened together at Seddon Park, they added 165 runs in 18.1 overs. They were more sedate today but still managed a 100-run stand in 19 overs. Seddon Park has something in it for the openers: Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir went on to outdo the New Zealand openers, and by some margin.
Last time Jesse Ryder and Brendon McCullum opened together at Seddon Park, they added 165 runs in 18.1 overs. They were more sedate today but still managed a 100-run stand in 19 overs. Seddon Park has something in it for the openers: Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir went on to outdo the New Zealand openers, and by some margin.
Not the ground to defend in
New Zealand have been adamant about wanting to chase in this series, but who would want to give the Indian batting line-up first use of batting-friendly conditions? So Daniel Vettori chose to bat at a venue where no team has successfully defended a total under lights. In the end, the toss remained the only thing New Zealand have won in this series.
New Zealand have been adamant about wanting to chase in this series, but who would want to give the Indian batting line-up first use of batting-friendly conditions? So Daniel Vettori chose to bat at a venue where no team has successfully defended a total under lights. In the end, the toss remained the only thing New Zealand have won in this series.
Six times faster
This is a man who missed a Test double-century at the MCG because he tried going for a six. But that dismissal hasn't changed Sehwag's mindset when approaching landmarks. Today he stepped out to Vettori, wasn't close enough to the pitch of the ball, and still managed to hit it for six over long-off.
This is a man who missed a Test double-century at the MCG because he tried going for a six. But that dismissal hasn't changed Sehwag's mindset when approaching landmarks. Today he stepped out to Vettori, wasn't close enough to the pitch of the ball, and still managed to hit it for six over long-off.
What a time to go
After 19.2 overs, India were 76 ahead of the Duckworth-Lewis par score. Just then it started to drizzle. Common sense would dictate that the umpires let them play out the next four deliveries, and let there be an official game. At that point, one team had outplayed the other and deserved to win the match. The umpires, though, went by the principle: when you gotta go, you gotta go. Thankfully the rain relented, but things wouldn't have been pretty if it hadn't.
After 19.2 overs, India were 76 ahead of the Duckworth-Lewis par score. Just then it started to drizzle. Common sense would dictate that the umpires let them play out the next four deliveries, and let there be an official game. At that point, one team had outplayed the other and deserved to win the match. The umpires, though, went by the principle: when you gotta go, you gotta go. Thankfully the rain relented, but things wouldn't have been pretty if it hadn't.
Sidharth Monga is a staff writer at Cricinfo