4.3 overs (0 Run) Now then, India take a review! An appeal for LBW has been turned down but it seems to be going down leg. There was no strong appeal as well. NOT OUT! It is clearly going down leg! Not the best of reviews to be honest and India lose one early. Angled into the pads, Rachin Ravindra looks to flick but misses to get hit on the pads.
4.2 overs (0 Run) Really good timing again! This is a length ball around off, Rachin Ravindra waits and then guides it right off the middle but to point.
4.1 overs (1 Run) Length again and around off, Young yet again dabs it down to third man and takes one.
3.6 overs (0 Run) Top over from Siraj! India have begun really well. Good length and around off, Rachin pushes it to covers.
3.5 overs (0 Run) Good shot but well fielded too! Good from India, keeping the pressure on! Length and around off, Rachin Ravindra comes onto the front foot and strokes it towards cover. The fielder dives to his left and stops it.
3.4 overs (0 Run) Good length and on off, blocked.
3.3 overs (0 Run) OUT! TAKEN! That is a sharp catch! Shreyas Iyer with an excellent effort. Conway can feel a little unlucky. He would have thought it is a certain boundary when he hit it. Mohammed Siraj strikes. Early wicket for India. Just what they would have wanted and it is the big one. On the pads, Devon Conway flicks it, it comes right off the middle, it flies towards mid-wicket. Iyer dives to his right and takes it low down. A little too the left or the right and it would have been a boundary but it was quite close to the fielder and Iyer reacted well.
3.2 overs (0 Run) Good length and on off, Conway keeps it out. Good from Siraj, two balls and both making the batter play. THis is what India need to do more.
3.1 overs (0 Run) Conway is still to get off the mark! This is fuller and on off, this is pushed to cover.
2.6 overs (0 Run) Keeps bowling that nagging length, the line is also around off, Young can only defend.
2.5 overs (0 Run) Relentless stuff from Jasprit Bumrah! Good length and on off, defended.
2.4 overs (0 Run) Slightly fuller and around off, Young leans into it and strokes it to covers. Good from Young so far, he is looking confident. Putting in a good stride and playing it confidently.
2.3 overs (0 Run) Around off, defended solidly.
2.2 overs (0 Run) Outside off, on a length, left alone.
2.1 overs (4 Runs) FOUR! Good effort but in vain! This is a really good delivery and it is well played too! Length and around off, this lands and takes off. It also moves away. Will Young does well to play it with soft hands, it goes off the outside edge fine on the off side. Third man runs to his right, dives but in vain.
1.6 overs (1 Run) A single to end then! This one is a lot better, closer to the off pole, this is guided down to third man for one.
1.5 overs (0 Run) Make that another leave! This is yet again outside off, Young points the bat skywards.
1.4 overs (0 Run) Yet another nut outside off, Will Young shoulders arms to it again. The Indians so far have been quite wide outside off.
1.3 overs (0 Run) Another one outside off, Young this time lets it go. Not a lot of movement for Siraj as of now.
1.2 overs (4 Runs) FOUR! Nice placement! Will Young is off the mark! Shorter and outside off, Young waits and then guides it past point. This one races away to the fence. First runs is in the form of a boundary.
1.1 overs (0 Run) Decent start from him too! On a length and outside off, Will Young shoulders arms to this one.
Mohammed Siraj to bowl from the other end.
0.6 over (0 Run) A maiden to begin with! Another one full and outside off, Devon Conway does not play at it. Jasprit Bumrah did get some decent movement but was quite wide outside off.
0.5 over (0 Run) Excellent from Bumrah! He is getting the ball to go both ways. This is the away swinger, it lands outside off and swings away. Left alone though as the line was not right.
0.4 over (0 Run) RIght on the money again! Good start from Bumrah. Also, he got this one to tail back in, it starts from around off and swings back in. Defended well.
0.3 over (0 Run) Attacks the stumps again, this is on a length and around off, blocked.
0.2 over (0 Run) Makes the batter play this time! This lands on middle and angles away. Devon Conway stays back and defends it.
0.1 over (0 Run) A little bit of movement off the pitch for Bumrah there. Length and outside off, Conway leaves it alone.
Done with the Anthems! It is time for the action to begin! The Indians make their way out to the middle and they are followed by the Kiwi openers, Devon Conway and Will Young! Jasprit Bumrah to begin.
Time for the National Anthems! The players and the umpires make their way out to the middle. The visitors will sing their first and then it will be the hosts’ turn.
New Zealand (PLAYING XI) – Devon Conway, Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (WK/C), Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult.
India (PLAYING XI) – Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj.
Tom Latham says they wanted to bowl first too as there could be dew but he hopes to bat well now. Adds they will look to stick to their plans and hope to do well again. Informs they are playing the same team.
Rohit Sharma says there could be dew, it looks like a good pitch and they want to back their strength. States it is important to keep the momentum going and forget what has happened, anybody can beat anyone and hence, they have to be switched on. Adds this is one of his favourite stadiums and it is good to play here. Informs they have made two changes, Hardik and Shardul are out and Suryakumar Yadav and Mohammed Shami come in.
TOSS – India have won the toss and ELECTED TO BOWL!
New Zealand on the other hand, have yet again been the surprise package. Yes, we probably say that about them in every World Cup but this time, without the services of Kane Williamson, they have been exceptional. Tom Latham has been brilliant with his captaincy and the senior players have stepped up. They too will wanting to make it another win but they face a stiff task ahead. Can they upset the odds? We will find out. Toss and teams in a bit.
The Indians have been dominant in this World Cup so far! They have beaten their oppositions quite easily. The key for them has been the form of Rohit, Kohli and Bumrah. The three have been at their best and the hosts seem an unstoppable force till now. They though are up against their least favourite opposition in recent times, New Zealand. They have struggled to beat them in recent times in the World Cups. That all can change here today. India are surely favourites heading into this game and will be looking to continue their winning streak.
Two of the best teams in the competition so far will be locking horns! Tournament favourites India will be taking on the Kiwis. Two teams that are still to lose a game. It is a clash between the table toppers. This promises to be an absolute cracker. Welcome to the coverage.
Topics mentioned in this article
4.4 overs (0 Run) Length and on off, blocked.