Story The ICC World Test Cricket Medal: ***Day Four Highlights***

[iridescentt]

Bert Sutcliffe

 

[just_cricket]

Well done that man

That is of course, correct. There is no point anyone PM-ing me now because skrillex_x has won!
I will send you your 50,000 vcash
shantanu_rooney ONLY gets 30,000 for runner up

 

[iridescentt]

Awesome. Cheers.

 

[Sartaj]

Ok...but how exactly did you find that answer?

 

[iridescentt]

Check the link for that image

 

[Sartaj]

Very clever indeed:hpraise...well done:hpraise

 

[shantanu_rooney]

before I came the question was already answered...

 

[BKB1991]

Thanks for the vCash Just_Cricket, I dont really I think I deserved it. Jeez you seem to have alot of vCash considering the way you are giving it
Great update as usual. Great Start by the New Zealand openers and they need to keep it going. How and Guptill controlled their innings pretty well. Now the much more experienced middle order needs to make sure it doesnt get wasted

 

[just_cricket]

: Welcome to the Basin Reserve for the third day of this test match between New Zealand and India, a Pool Match in the ICC Test Cricket World Medal. The situation is that, in reply to India's first innings total of 383, New Zealand are well placed at 141/1, with Jamie How and Daniel Flynn at the wicket. How is batting very well, he will resume unbeaten from last night on 67- Flynn only just began his innings last night. The man out is Martin Guptill for 67- caught Zaheer Khan, bowled Ishant Sharma. So as all is set for a close, exciting match, let's cross to Martin Crowe and Ravi Shastri, for their comments as they take you through the Morning Session...

: Thank you, Smithy, Good Morning to all our viewers. Yes, as you say Smithy, all is set here. This will most likely be the deciding day- NZ just have their noses in front in terms of where they are placed- but it is India who have runs on the board. Well NZ are in a good position, good positions are worth nothing if they are wasted- and New Zealand is undisputedly the worst team for wasting good positions. So let's hope, for the sake of the Black Caps, that they can turn this good position into real runs, and take a first innings lead over India here today...


How begins the day as if he is still batting in Day Two- powerfully cutting Sharma's first ball, a real loosener, for four. However, he then has a rush of blood and takes a very risky single, but the throw from Yuvraj is wild and he makes it home.
Pathan comes on at the other end, and immediately has New Zealand in trouble:

: Pathan, running into bowl to Flynn, and he's rapt on the pad! There's a huge shout for lbw, and he's given him!

Daniel Flynn has been dismissed! Well, it definitely pitched in line, wasn't going over the stumps, so the only consideration the umpire had to take was was it going down the leg side? I suspect it may have been, but it was definitely close. Close enough, anyway, for the umpire, and Daniel Flynn has to go for 3- it's 148/2.

: Here comes Pathan, in again now to Ross Taylor, having just cut a four to open his account. He's changed to around the wicket after that shot... And Taylor has padded up to a straightish delivery! What was he thinking?! The Indians roar a huge appeal, the umpire raises his finger and Taylor has to go!

Well there may have been a bit of doubt about Flynn's decision- but there is absolutely none about this one. Taylor just judged the line horribly- a good move from Pathan to change the angles- and he's left alone a straight ball that was always heading straight. So Pathan strikes twice in one over- it's 152/3!

How answers these wickets by taking 8 off Sharma's next over- first a booming cover drive that thuds into the fence, and then a delicately played leg glance which just beats the long leg fielder to the boundary.
Apparently in a move for Pathan to change ends, Harbhajan Singh comes on, and is immediately greeted by a technically beautiful cover drive from the new batsman, Kane Williamson. However, Pathan's next over gets India right back into the game...

: Pathan, to Williamson and he's bowledem! Through the gate!

Well, well, well. NZ's history of batting collapses looks to continue- this is already a mini collapse here- since 135 runs were put on for the first wicket, NZ have lost 20/4! Jesse Ryder is the new man, with the task of giving this innings some direction once more.

Ryder announced his arrival at the crease by smashing a cut shot for 4. How continues to milk runs off the bowlers, scoring fluently in ones and twos, but for Ryder, it is a different story...

He launches an absolute onslaught against the Indian bowlers- neither Pathan or Harbhajan is spared. He begins by pulling Pathan viciously for four:

Then straight drives him for a massive 6!

: HOLY COW! That is an absolutely massive hit, a collosal strike! Dear me it's come over to our right as we sit way up in the commentary box. Boy, oh boy we see on the replay there it's gone through the gap between the RA Vance Stand and the Old Stand.

123m! That is ridiculous! I tell you, he has a lot of power in his shoulders and can hit a long ball, but his bat must be amazing, because I have played with some tremendous hitters in my time, and none of them could do any more than dream of a hit that big! Incredible!

He continues to more than dominate- cover drives 4, smashes another six, lofts four more- it is almost Nathan Astle 222 all over again at this stage. At anything that is slightly short or with a hint of width, he shows no respect- cutting two consecutive balls from Pathan for 4.
The next over, against Harbhajan, he plays a cracking off drive to bring up his fifty off just 37 balls!

And then delicately late cuts 4 to add insult to injury for Harbhajan.
Three overs go by without boundaries being scored, but the run rate still rattles along- with How and Ryder taking at least four singles from each over. The score by this stage is nearing 250, from being 160 what seemed like a few minutes ago.
Ryder confidently brings up the 250 with a pull, and then launches back into another onslaught, hitting four after four after six- the bowlers just seem powerless to stop him. Then, in the 59th over of the innings, Ryder makes New Zealand history by bringing up his century with a cover drive off Ishant Sharma- the incredible feat- it has come off just 63 balls!
How, trying in vain not to be outdone, reaches his 100 soon later with another cover drive off Sharma.

It has been a really good innings by him- on the back of his hundred against England in his previous innings. He has been somewhat overshadowed by Ryder's display in the last hour, but it has been a flawless, classical test match innings.

Almost angry at someone else having their moment of glory, Ryder ensures all eyes turn back to him by smashing a huge six off Harbhajan:

: GRACIOUS NEIGHBOURS! That's huge! That is a hit off thrilling proportions- it's hit the roof of a nearby cathedral! And as the Hawkeye measurement comes up... Oh only 116m. Puny- that's 7m shorter than his six into the building near us! Only a small six!

With lunch nearing, both batsmen look to consolidate, but Ryder can't resist one last cover drive for four off Sharma. Then, it is Lunch on Day Three.

: Well, what an entertaining Morning Session! We have had 179 runs scored and 3 wickets taken, in just 27 overs! Over 6 an over, and in a test match, I can tell you, that is special. Both batsmen in for New Zealand, and after threatening to waste their good position by falling from 141/1 to 165/4, they are firmly on top at 320/4, likely to take first innings points and have enough time to get a sizeable lead, and have time to bowl at the Indians a second time. Make sure you join as again for the Afternoon Session's play- can Ryder and How continue and demoralise the Indians further? Or will India find much needed spark after lunch and peg the New Zealanders back? Cricket's a funny game, just make sure you get to see it unfold!

 

[Sartaj]

Way to go Jesse :happy

 

[CG123]

Another great update, great going NZ, esp. by Ryder and How.

 

[BKB1991]

Great counterattack from Ryder. Look at his brute power!!!
NZ made a mess of things early on but How and Ryder need to make this partnership work and we can see India in a tough position.
Hopefully McCullum comes to the party too.

 

[hedger_14]

Another great update mate. Ryder and How are keeping NZL in the match. KUTGW.

 

[MaD]

Fantastic job mate, loving how you do it
That was a big 6 there!

 

[nino1310]

what patches have you got???