Well Bangladesh enjoyed each and every moment in the first and the only test match that they played against New Zealand here in Hamilton. First, some sort of underestimation from the New Zealand side sees them making fools out of themselves after they lose 5 quick wickets for a score of just 158 on the board. And then, some late firing from Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill sees New Zealand piling up a total in excess of 500 in their first innings. And then, Bangladesh also follows suit when they hammer 400+ and in the process avoid follow on and with it the innings defeat.
Now, on the 4th day's play, New Zealand take no chances and do what they are supposed to. They go in for a quickfire scoring when they end their second innings after declaring with the scoreboard reading 258/5. This is the same total that the New Zealand batsmen were found putting up in their first innings of the match on day 1. However, their batting was not that bad like they had in the first innings. Though New Zealand lost wickets at regular intervals, their body language very well showed that they had full control of the match and going wrong by any chance was completely ruled out.
Out of the 5 New Zealand wickets that fell in the second innings, three of them were run outs and moreover were set up by the Kiwi batsmen themselves. It was their hurry to keep the scoreboard ticking which saw them lose the battle with the stumps. The Bangladeshi bowlers could not stop McIntosh from striking 3 huge ones out of the ground. It was a bonus for Bangladesh to have had 5 Kiwi batsmen back in the pavilion. This once again shows that Bangladesh can cash out only from the mistakes that the opponent does and not by its own effort tame the same.
And later on, the New Zealand bowlers also followed suit which saw them bag 5 wickets with the scoreboard reading 88 runs. With an innings win out of question for the kiwis in the match, atleast a huge margin in terms of runs would be satisfactory for them I suppose. With still 317 runs needed for Bangladesh for an unlikely victory, New Zealand would have hoped for another test match in the tournament so that they undo the mistake they were found doing in the first and the lone test match at Hamilton. And, Bangladesh should stop hoping for the opposition to fare badly which they can cash out.
Showing posts with label Martin Guptil. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Martin Guptil. Show all posts
Friday, 19 February 2010
Wednesday, 17 February 2010
New Zealand get back into the game
By the end of the 1st day's play at Hamilton, New Zealand were 5 down with a not so decent total on the board. New Zealand ended the first day's play with 258 runs on the board, which at one stage saw them reeling at 158/5. Following this, New Zealand was left with just 2 batsmen who could rewrite their fortunes in Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill. And, this could have well been anticipated to be done by a team that is facing Bangladesh on its home ground. This does not make a difference where the match is played, for even at Bangladesh the result would have been no different.
The batsmen who could promise were Martin Guptill and Brendon McCullum who did exactly what they were entitled to and expected to do. Both the batsmen put up a 339 run partnership for the 6th wicket which can now guarantee a win for New Zealand. And, in case fortunes swing for New Zealand, they can even expect an innings win. The duo's score accounted for almost 68 percent of the total score of 553 put up on the board by New Zealand. All that the Bangladeshi fielders could do was to see the ball hovering over the ropes continuously as a mute spectator.
Finally, New Zealand didn't take any chances and declared after both Martin Guptill and Brendon McCullum left the crease, realizing the fact that further delay can only add more to the number of wickets that have fallen and may be with a handful of runs that can in no better way be of any difference to the match. Darryl Tuffey and Jeetan Patel batted as though they were ending a limited overs game in its slog overs. Tuffey and Patel ended up scoring 31 and 24 respectively, with strike rates of 81 and 100 respectively. However, I wish New Zealand should have betted for a few more overs that could have seen Tuffey going past 50 runs.
And, after the Bangladeshi innings started, may be that the Kiwi captain Daniel Vettori might have kicked himself for declaring the innings which was a batsmen's paradise. The Bangladeshi innings was also no less when it came to some good scoring and free hitting. Bangladesh ended their day by putting up 87 runs on the board for the loss of just 1 wicket with Tamim Iqbal remaining not out on 56. All has to be blamed on the first day's play where New Zealand were found underestimating the Bangladeshi bowlers and took them seriously only after half the side was washed out.
The batsmen who could promise were Martin Guptill and Brendon McCullum who did exactly what they were entitled to and expected to do. Both the batsmen put up a 339 run partnership for the 6th wicket which can now guarantee a win for New Zealand. And, in case fortunes swing for New Zealand, they can even expect an innings win. The duo's score accounted for almost 68 percent of the total score of 553 put up on the board by New Zealand. All that the Bangladeshi fielders could do was to see the ball hovering over the ropes continuously as a mute spectator.
Finally, New Zealand didn't take any chances and declared after both Martin Guptill and Brendon McCullum left the crease, realizing the fact that further delay can only add more to the number of wickets that have fallen and may be with a handful of runs that can in no better way be of any difference to the match. Darryl Tuffey and Jeetan Patel batted as though they were ending a limited overs game in its slog overs. Tuffey and Patel ended up scoring 31 and 24 respectively, with strike rates of 81 and 100 respectively. However, I wish New Zealand should have betted for a few more overs that could have seen Tuffey going past 50 runs.
And, after the Bangladeshi innings started, may be that the Kiwi captain Daniel Vettori might have kicked himself for declaring the innings which was a batsmen's paradise. The Bangladeshi innings was also no less when it came to some good scoring and free hitting. Bangladesh ended their day by putting up 87 runs on the board for the loss of just 1 wicket with Tamim Iqbal remaining not out on 56. All has to be blamed on the first day's play where New Zealand were found underestimating the Bangladeshi bowlers and took them seriously only after half the side was washed out.
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