3 Cities, 3 Opponents….3 Wins

By Rahul Patil

When I first moved to New Zealand in 2011 my first job was that of a Car Salesman at a yard on Kent Terrace in Wellington. At every sales training I remember one golden rule which was repeated time and again i.e. “The most important task of a Car Salesman is selection” meaning if you listen to your customers and select the right vehicle that ticks all the boxes then the car will sell itself. The blackcaps must have attended the same training as they have selected brilliantly in all three outings so far.

Will Young scored 70 in the last game, but it was he and not Mark Chapman who had to make way for the returning Kane Williamson. All the pre match talk was about the turning Chennai wicket and whether Ish Sodhi would find a place in the playing XI. But once again New Zealand read the pitch well and selected the same set of bowlers that played against The Netherlands in Hyderabad. Both selections were spot on and played a huge role in another comprehensive victory.

The short ball strategy was used to perfection against a Bangladeshi side that traditionally has always struggled against chin music. Their innings was in all sorts of trouble at 56 for 4. Yet again two 36-year-old gentlemen i.e., Shakib (40 of 51) & Mushfiqur (66 of 75) had to rescue them while a 37-year-old i.e., Mahmudullah (41 of 49) dug deep to pull them to 245 for 9 in their 50 overs. Bangladesh do have some promising youngsters but its high time they step up and start shouldering some responsibility or else the future looks bleak. Ferguson the most successful bowler, bowled with pace and bounce to pick 3 for 49 in his 10 overs.

Any chances of an upset due to Rachin’s early departure were quickly dismissed by Conway & Williamson. Even though Kane was returning to the game after a gap of 196 days it felt as though he had never left. When he was 2 from 19 deliveries one just got the feeling that this was going to be yet another typical Kane Williamson knock. Get set, absorb the pressure, build partnerships, and then start accelerating. First a partnership of 80 with Conway and then a partnership of 108 with Daryl Mitchell sealed the deal for New Zealand.

Daryl Mitchell came down the track to Shakib first ball and hit him for a six. It appears he had decided to do that since dinner last night. On a pitch where no other batter who scored 20+ could manage a strike rate over 88, Mitchell scored his 89 not out striking at 133. The boy from Hamilton who used to be in and out of the side in the early part of his career has now transformed into an all-format beast for the blackcaps.

The joy of victory was marred a bit due to Kane Williamson being retired hurt. First it looked as though there was something wrong with his knee when he was trying to push for a second run. Then he got hit on the thumb while trying to make his ground. The official news is that he will have a scan for his thumb tomorrow after which we will know more. Fingers crossed its good news.

The win helps the blackcaps go back to number 1 on the points table. South Africa have a better net run rate and play Netherlands next. Looking at the form South Africa have shown so far, they should be back in top spot after that game.

Meanwhile time stops in India tomorrow. It’s the mother, father, son, and daughter of all cricket games. When India plays Pakistan its never “just another game of cricket.” The side that loses tomorrow better win the World Cup or else take a long vacation off the grid. No pressure…. yeah right!

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