Story Videocon Cup 2005 [C2005]

[m_vaughan]

Lou Vincent picks up his first boundary

After being beaten by Balaji twice in the over, Vincent finally connects, and does it well to pick up four runs.

 

[m_vaughan]

Pathan rattles Vincent's stumps
The left handed pace bowler swings the ball back into Vincent who misses the line, and is out bowled. Vincent scored nine runs which included one four. Pathan picks up his second wicket as New Zealand are reduced 26-2 after 7 overs.

New Zealand FOW 26-2
Lou Vincent b Irfan Pathan 9(26)

 

[m_vaughan]

Next Batsman - Nathan Astle
The Kiwiz have two of their best and most experienced batsmen in the middle now, as Astle joins his captain at the crease. After losing two early wickets, both these batsmen will be under a lot of pressure now.

 

[m_vaughan]

Stephen Fleming hits out
After a rather slow start, Fleming decides to go after a full pitched delivery, scoring a boundary in the end.

Harbhajan Singh into the attack
The offspinner is brought in as early as the 12th over of the innings.

Fleming continues to play his shots
Another fine shot from the New Zealand captain, and another boundary.

 

[m_vaughan]

15 over update

New Zealand 63-2 (15 Overs)
Stephen Fleming 11*
Nathan Astle 19*

Irfan Pathan 2-20

New Zealand have steadied their innings to some extent after losing both their openers early. The experienced duo of Fleming and Astle have looked pretty solid for the Kiwiz till now, not doing anything foolish, but at the same time dispatching the bad deliveries for four. Nathan Astle especially is looking to be in good form, having scored 91 against the Board President's XI in the warm up game. Stephen Fleming himself has played a couple of well timed shots.

For India, Irfan Pathan has been the wicket taking bowler, picking up both wickets in his first spell of five overs. Ajit Agarkar and Harbhajan Singh are currently operating for India, and already people are asking question's about India's fifth bowler, or rather the lack of it.

Yuvraj Singh, Virender Sehwag and Saurav Ganguly can all bowl, but can they fill in for a fifth bowler?

 

[hassan]

great story so far

 

[m_vaughan]

Poll added. Vote now.

 

[m_vaughan]

Astle and Fleming pile on the runs
Nathan Astle and Stephen Fleming have now put on 68 runs between them, with Astle scoring 43 of them. However Astle was lucky to have been dropped by Mahendra Dhoni.
New Zealand are currently 94-2 after 22 overs.

Astle's good start to the subcontinent tour continues.

 

[hassan]

lol u mean Newzeland not SRilanka

 

[m_vaughan]

Sorry bout that mate. Fixed Now.

 

[m_vaughan]

Fleming falls to Harbhajan
Harbhajan Singh strikes for India, dismissing the New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming, caught by VVS Laxman. Fleming made just 17 runs from 46 balls that included two fours. However he gave good support to the inform Astle.

This is a big wicket for India, as this partnership was starting to look dangerous.

New Zealand FOW 94-3
Stephen Fleming c VVS Laxman b Harbhajan Singh 17(46)

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Next Batsman - Craig McMillan
Craig McMillan is one of those who can score runs as well as up the run rate. If he can build a good partnership with Nathan Astle, then New Zealand will be in a very good position to post a high total.

 

[tjh1989]

Good wicket for the Indians a few more quick wickets would have the Kiwis in trouble, keep it up.

 

[m_vaughan]

Half Century for Nathan Astle
Eight boundaries in his innings of 50 from 58 balls. Astle setting the tone early on.

Make that nine boundaries
A fine on drive, beautifully timed, and crashed to the fence for four by Nathan Astle.

 

[ashu2411]

Astle is key here for New Zealand. India need to get him as quickly as possible.
Great story and good job

 

[m_vaughan]

30 over update

New Zealand 115-3 (30 Overs)
Nathan Astle 55*
Craig McMillan 7*

Irfan Pathan 2-20

Harbhajan Singh bowled really well and kept it tight during his single full spell of 10 overs, conceding just 31 runs, as well as picking up the big wicket of Stephen Fleming. But one would think he would have picked a couple of more wickets.

New Zealand have a steady run rate of just under 4 runs per over at the moment, but they have seven wickets in hand. And if they dont lose too many wickets in the next ten overs, you would expect them to score somewhere around 240-250 in the end. India, hence need to pick up wickets, especially that of dangerman Nathan Astle.

India have used Yuvraj Singh as their fifth bowler so far, and he has gone for 22 runs in his five overs, with no wickets to his name.