Indian bowlers stifle Kiwis in Oval work-out

A typically excited and excitable crowd turned up at The Oval to watch ICC Champions Trophy holder India warm up against former winners New Zealand.

India were without Yuvraj Singh, unwell with a fever, and Rohit Sharma, who will join the squad later today. The Black Caps, resting Ross Taylor, Mitch McClenaghan and Tom Latham, won the toss and skipper Kane Williamson had no hesitation in having a bat on what looks a typically true Oval wicket.

Williamson was in sooner than he would have liked as Mohammad Shami got one to bounce a bit and cause Martin Guptill to chip to mid-off. At the other end Luke Ronchi set off with a flurry of boundaries as Hardik Pandya, part of an impressive-looking and well balanced India attack, proved expensive. At 62 for 1 in the eighth, things were looking good for New Zealand but Shami then dismissed Williamson, edging a catch to Rahane at wide slip, and had Neil Broom caught behind in successive balls to put New Zealand on the back foot.

Corey Anderson bristled with aggression but played on to Bhuvneshwar Kumar with the score on 86 in the fourteenth over. Ronchi had gone to a 42-ball 50 without ever looking totally comfortable but was then starved of the strike before being bowled by Ravi Jadeja’s arm ball for 66 from 63 balls.

Both Jadeja and Ashwin, on his return from injury, looked in fine fettle, hustling through their overs, significantly slowing the run rate, and frustrating the batsmen with changes in flight and pace, with Ashwin even experimenting with some leg-breaks. Mitchell Santner got nowhere near the pitch to Ashwin, holing out to Jadeja at wide long on, Jadeja had de Grandhomme stumped and India’s fifth pacer Umesh Yadav then had Adam Milne caught behind as the New Zealand innings spluttered.

Kumar finished things off for his team, cleaning up Tim Southee before having Trent Boult caught cover by Shami, to complete a three-wicket haul and leave left-hander Jimmy Neesham stranded on 46 not out from 47 balls. With New Zealand having batted just 38.4 of their allotted 50 overs, India require 190 to win.

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