India defeated New Zealand by five wickets at M Chinnaswamy Stadium at Bangalore to win the two match series 2-0. The match went down to the wire and some calm batting by Indians saw the home team chase down a stiff total of 261 runs in the fourth innings.
The second match was much more exciting than the Hyderabad Test match where India outplayed the visitors and won the match without any fuss. This Test match on the other hand, saw some intense battle and both the teams were in the match till the last time.
New Zealand team put up a brave show against a powerful Indian side had the chance to level the series. Some explosive batting by their captain and some skillful seam bowling from the Kiwi seamers ensured that there was no breathing space for MS Dhoni and his men.
For India, it was their young players once again who played a decisive role. For the second time in the row, India seniors disappointed and it was the efforts of the young guns that took India over the line.
There were some commendable performances rom both side and pretty ordinary ones, let’s have a look at some of the hits and flops from both teams.
India
Hits:
Virat Kohli: Kohli has been the golden boy for Indian team in the shorter formats and in this Test match he showed that he has got the ability to replicate his form in the longer version as well. In the first Innings, Kohli came into bat when India lost three quick wickets, soon after his arrival Sachin got out. Kohli than with Raina to put up an important partnership for India. He than was involved in what was a match saving partnership for India with skipper MS Dhoni. In the process he scored his second Test hundred. In the second innings, Kohli guided the Indian run-chase and ensured that he was on the crease till the last run. He was the highest run-scorer for India in both the innings with 103 and 51*.
Pragyan Ojha: Dhoni surprised one and all when he gave Ojha the new ball in an overhead condition. Ojha through his performance in the first innings he lives up to the captain’s expectations as he picked up five wickets. Most of his dismissals were top order batsmen. He was steady in the second innings and also picked up two wickets.
R Ashwin: If it was Ojha in the first innings, than it wsa Ashwin’s performance in the second innings that stopped New Zealand from taking a substantial lead. Ashwin took some crucial wickets in the middle overs and finished with 5-69.
MS Dhoni: Dhoni as always was good behind the wicket, but it was his two innings that saved the match for India. In both the innings he partnered with Kohli and put up a brave show. In the first innings he scored 62 runs and he scored 48* in the second innings.
Flops:
Gautam Gambhir: Gambhir is going through a lean patch in Test cricket and his struggle continued in this match as well. In the first innings he left a straight ball and got out on 2. In the second innings, Gambhir was looking in good touch and cracked seven boundaries. But he perished playing a rash stroke on 34.
Sachin Tendulkar: It has been a long time since the master has scored a century in this format and the wait continues as he failed in both innings. What will be more frustrating for Sachin will be his way of dismissal. In both the innings he was bowled after getting a start.
Sachin Tendulkar
Ross Taylor: Taylor played the innings of the match. Before the match, Taylor said that the Kiwi batsmen has to attack Indian spinners and he led by example in both innings. Taylor’s hundred in the first innings was one of the best in recent time and that injected a lot of confidence in his teammates. He scored 113 runs in the first innings and 35 in the second.
Tim Southee: He bowled the spell of his life in the first innings. Southee was brought into the team in place of Chris Martin and Southee came up with brilliant figures. He swung the ball both ways and was dangerous throughout the innings. He took seven wickets in the first innings and one in the second.
Kruger van Wyk: The little known wicket-keeper batsman from New Zealand played important hand in both the innings. In the first innings he kept the tempo going after Taylor’s wicket and scored 71 important runs. Even in the second innings, his innings of 31 took New Zealand’s lead well past the 200 run-mark.
Flops:
Brendon McCullum: He was one of the most experienced Kiwi batsmen and a lot was expected of him. But McCullum failed in both the innings. He failed to open his account in the first innings, in the second innings he looked focused but got out after getting a start.
Kane Williamson: Williamson was very impressive in the first Test, but he failed in both the innings of this Test. Williamson is a very highly rated batsmen in the New Zealand team and him coming up with scores of 17 and 13 would have been very disappointing for him and his team.
Trent Boult: Like Williamson, Boult was also very good in the first match and was the best bowler for Kiwis. But in this match he could only tale one wicket. He went wicket-less in the first innings and took Gambhir’s wicket in the second. He was a bit unlucky at times, but even he will agree that he could have bowled much better.
By Indian Sports News Network
