- Thread starter Basil
- Start date
- Replies: Replies 581
- Views: Views 32,985
Williamson fifty promises big total
New Zealand promised India another big chase as their top order flogged a listless attack on a slow pitch with a small and quick outfield to counter the slowness of the surface. It could have been much worse for India, who were unchanged despite persistent failures of Suresh Raina and Ishant Sharma, had the slowness of the pitch not got rid of a rampaging Jesse Ryder at the top. Despite that early loss and a slow start from Martin Guptill - who faced 25 dot balls in the first 10 overs - New Zealand managed to keep the run rate up through an 89-run stand in 15.3 overs between Guptill and Kane Williamson.
One of these days Ryder will convert a start, and set a target of close to 400. Once again he looked in golden touch, square-driving and cover-driving any bit of width he got from India's new-ball bowlers. However, when trying to upper-cut Mohammed Shami, he was done in by the slow and low bounce, and ended up bottom-edging it to MS Dhoni. Guptill was only 4 off 21 when Ryder fell at the team score of 25 in the sixth over.
It was imperative Guptill be given some time to come out of this patch with the extreme pressure of scoring runs, and Kane Williamson did just that. He pulled and punched with ease, and Guptill too began to time his shots better. He was helped along the way by an off-rhythm Ishant, who began with a leg-side half-volley and followed it up with a wide. The last ball of his third over angled into the pads, and Guptill played his famous lofted drive, where he looks down at the pitch, where the ball used to be, and not at where it sails off. This one sailed over long-on for six, taking him to 28 off 42, and New Zealand to 70 for 1 after 13 overs.
By that time, without any fuss, Williamson had reached 20 off 25, and hit Ravindra Jadeja either side of point to make it 28 off 28 in the 14th over. Now it looked all too easy for Guptill and Williamson with India's having to resort to part-time bowlers. Virat Kohli went for runs, Suresh Raina was going for a few too until Guptill, who had scored 40 off his last 44 deliveries, tried too ambitious a shot - something between a sweep and a pull - and top-edge him to short fine leg.
By the end of the 25th over, Williamson and Taylor had added 16 off 25 balls, and Williamson had brought up his second consecutive half-century.
