Guptill's stunning grab

New Zealand had the chance to shut the game in the 43rd over but let it slip when they reprieved Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin off successive deliveries from Nathan McCullum. Ashwin was in the mood to capitalise and swung McCullum's first ball of the next over for a straight six. The fifth was carted at deep midwicket, and it seemed to be heading over Martin Guptill, but he stuck a hand out and grabbed it at the edge of the rope. However, realising the momentum was taking him over, he let go of the ball just before his foot popped over the rope. Guptill made sure to lob it high enough to have enough time to step back and stand in expectation as it came down into his hands for the second time.

This was straight out of Confusion Central. Kane Williamson hooked a bouncer from Bhuvneshwar Kumar and nervously saw it sail to deep backward square, but it fell comfortably short of Varun Aaron running across from fine leg. Aaron overran the ball and the batsmen were contemplating a second run as he steadied himself to pick it up. Except their thoughts were not in sync. When Williamson wanted it, Guptill hesitated, and when Guptill trotted out, Williamson stopped. Guptill went back, but he suddenly ran out again, only to realise that the ball was on its way. Fortunately for New Zealand, Guptill made it back and comedy was the only outcome.

Soon after the game started, a large, inflated ball bobbed onto the field. Virat Kohli strode in the direction of the intruder, took it by the scruff and tried to deflate it on his way to the umpire. But as boos rang around the ground, Kohli changed his mind. He turned and walked towards the straight boundary now and dismissively threw the still-intact ball over the advertising boards.

As soon as Kohli walked in after the fall of the first India wicket, the stand next to the dressing room gave him a standing ovation. As his name was announced over the PA system, a huge roar rose from all corners of the ground. Only Kohli wasn't on strike; the batsmen had crossed when Shikhar Dhawan's catch was taken. But a chant of "Kohli, Kohli" rang out and continued for quite some time. He is the new star all right.