highlights
India beat New Zealand by 8 wickets in Raipur ODI
Took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the 3 ODI series
Mohammed Shami bowled brilliantly with the new ball.
New Delhi. After winning the last over in Hyderabad, Team India did not give any chance to New Zealand in Raipur. After bundling out the Kiwi team for 108 runs, they easily won the second ODI by 8 wickets and took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series. When the bowlers get a team out on such a low score, then the path is not very difficult for the batsmen. The same happened in the second ODI between India and New Zealand in Raipur. On the basis of Rohit Sharma’s stormy half-century, India achieved the target of victory by losing 2 wickets in the 21st over. The hero of India’s victory was the bowler. Especially the way Mohammed Shami bowled with the new ball, it was worth watching.
Mohammed Shami told in the very first over why he is counted among the most dangerous bowlers in the world. He trapped New Zealand opener Finn Allen in his net. Shami bowled the first 4 ball out-swing and the fifth ball bowled at a speed of 138 kmph came inwards fast. Allen was not ready for this. The ball hit his pad and went on the wicket and in this way New Zealand got the first blow on the score of zero.
Shami took full advantage of the fast bowling friendly conditions in Raipur. He bowled on good length and took special care of seam position. So that the new ball can take full advantage of the moisture present in the pitch. Due to his tight bowling, the New Zealand batsmen had to change their style of play.
Shami’s second victim became Daryl Mitchell. He tried to go ahead and play the shot to find the cut of Shami’s swing. But, Shami showed cleverness and changed the length of the ball in such a way that Mitchell’s shot came straight into his hand and thus Shami got his second success.
Shami bowled just one full length ball in the powerplay.
Shami bowled only one full length ball in the first 4 overs. But, that too was not such that New Zealand’s batter could easily drive on it. Due to Shami’s tight bowling, Mohammad Siraj and Hardik Pandya were able to tighten the screws on New Zealand and returned half the Kiwi team to the pavilion on the score of 15 runs.
Tight bowling even in the middle overs
The famous Krishna or Umran Malik has been virtually spearheading the Indian pat attack in the middle overs in ODIs in the last two years. However, due to famous injury, he has been out of the team for a long time, while Umran is not getting a constant place in the playing-XI in ODIs. Because India wants a player like Shardul Thakur at number-8, who can also bat. However, even in the absence of Umran and Prasad, Shami bowled brilliantly in the middle overs even with the old ball and cemented his claim as one of the probables for the ODI World Cup.
Shami played only one third of ODIs in 2 years
After Bumrah is fit, Shami may have to make a place for him in Team India. However, this is not new for this experienced fast bowler. He has not been a regular part of the ODI team since the last ODI World Cup. This can be gauged from the fact that since the beginning of 2020, he has appeared in only 14 out of 44 ODIs. Means the number of ODIs played by Team India in this period. Shami became a part of the playing-XI in only one-third of that. The speed with which Mohammad Siraj emerged, he pushed Shami back. But, the way Shami bowled in Raipur. He proved that he is not the kind of bowler who gets sidelined by silence.
If Shami is successful in bowling with this rhythm this year, then he has the power to single-handedly end the World Cup drought of 12 years. It is also beneficial for Team India. Because how many teams can say that they have a fast bowler like Shami as Plan-B.
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Tags: india vs new zealand, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohd Siraj, ODI World Cup, prasidh krishna, team india, Umran Malik
FIRST PUBLISHED : January 22, 2023, 07:09 IST