New Zealand’s slow innings against India in the first semi-final of the World Cup at Old Trafford were interrupted by rain on Tuesday. The Black Caps were 211 for the loss of five wickets after 46 overs, when play was stopped.
According to ESPNcricinfo, it was raining heavily at first in Manchester which later reduced to a drizzle, but again picked up after a while.
Ross Taylor and Tom Latham were on the crease when the game was interrupted by the rain. Taylor had scored 67 off 85 balls, while Latham stood at 3.
The Kiwis had lost Colin de Grandhomme (16) who, in an apparent attempt to lift New Zealand’s run rate in the final overs, had played straight into the hands of Indian wicketkeeper MS Dhoni, reducing the Kiwis to 200-5 in 45 overs. De Gradhomme’s wicket came just two balls after Ross Taylor took a successful review after being adjudged lbw.
New Zealand had lost James Neesham (12) in the 41st over when he was caught by Dinesh Karthik.
New Zealand remained defensive against Indian bowlers, who kept the run rate in check and continued to build pressure on the Kiwi batsmen from the get-go. The men in blue got their first breakthrough in the fourth over when opener Martin Guptill (1) was dismissed by Jasprit Bumrah.
Skipper Kane Williamson had joined Henry Nicholls (28) on the crease in the fourth over after Guptill’s early dismissal. The two built a 68-run partnership giving the team some stability after an early setback. It came to an end in the 19th over when Nicholls was bowled out by Ravindra Jadeja.The Black Caps suffered a major setback in the 36th over when skipper Kane Williamson (67) was removed by Yuzvendra Chahal. Kiwis were 134 for the loss of three wickets after the skipper’s dismissal. Over the next four overs, they managed to score 21 more.
His 50 had come off 79 balls and he only managed to hit three boundaries in the process.
New Zealand will resume where this innings left off, on 211 for 5 with 23 balls of their innings still to come.
The run tally of Williamson — who has been a steady force in New Zealand’s batting order — in the World Cup has crossed 500 while his tournament average passed 100, according to the ICC Cricket World Cup Twitter account.
New Zealand will resume where this innings left off, on 211 for 5 with 23 balls of their innings still to come.
