India bowl out New Zealand for 288
By IANSTuesday, August 10, 2010
DAMBULLA - New Zealand captain Ross Taylor fell five short of a well-deserved century before Indian bowlers fought back in the death overs to bowl the Black Caps for 288 in their first One-day International of the tri-nation cricket series here Tuesday.
Winning the toss and batting, New Zealand were reeling at 28 for three in seven overs before Taylor and Scott Styris (89) rustled up 190 runs for the fourth wicket to steer the Kiwis near the 300-run mark. But Indian pacers Ashish Nehra (4-47) and Praveen Kumar (3-43) halted their march and bundled out New Zealand with seven balls to spare.
India are now left to face the tricky job of playing under the lights. The pitch is expected to suit the pace-attack of the New Zealand team and India without their key players — Sachin Tendulkar and Gautam Gambhir — should be prepared to dig their feet.
Earlier, New Zealand batting looked pale in the absence of Brendon McCullum and Daniel Vettori. The Black Caps were off to an ominous start, losing three quick wickets, but Taylor and Styris joined hands in the seventh over. The two survived some anxious moments but soon began to cut loose, coming down heavily on Indian spinners Pragyan Ojha (58 for one) and Ravindra Jadeja (63 for no loss) in the middle overs.
The two looked poised to carry on in the same vein till the end but Ojha managed to disturb the bails of Styris in the 39th over. Styris’ innings came off 95 balls with nine fours and a six. Taylor departed four overs later when he was trapped leg before by Nehra. His innings included eight fours and a six.
India were forced to use spinners till the 46th over but the Indian seamers rose to the task and were prompt in dismissing the New Zealand tail.
