MillenniumPost
Sports

Rohit, Rahane find form as tour game ends in draw

India top-order failed to convert good starts but Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane struck morale-boosting fifties ahead of the Test series as the visiting team’s two-day practice match against New Zealand XI ended in a tame draw on Monday.

India batted out the second day, finishing at 313 for seven declared in 93 overs, with Rahane (60) and Rohit (59) getting some much-needed runs ahead of the two-Test series against New Zealand starting February 6 in Auckland. This was in reply to the hosts’ score of 262 for nine declared on the first day.

The Indian batting started from their overnight score of 41/0, with openers Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay looking to bat for time. But they couldn’t stay at the wicket for a long duration, as both fell early in the first hour of play. Vijay was the first to go, bowled in the second over of the day, without adding to his overnight score of 19, which came off 56 deliveries and included one hit to the fence.

Dhawan needed to spend more time in the middle after his repetitive failures in the ODI series but going for a third run, a misunderstanding with non-striker Cheteshwar Pujara meant that he was run-out. He scored 26 runs, off 68 balls, with four fours. New Zealand XI skipper Anton Devcich described Pujara as ‘the toughest Indian batsman to bowl to’, and it certainly looked so while he batted for an hour and half, scoring 33 runs (66 balls, four fours) before he was trapped LBW by Roald Badenhorst (1-38).  It brought together Rohit and Rahane at the crease, and the duo didn’t face much trouble as the pitch eased out under the bright sun. They added 99 runs on either side of lunch. Post-break, Rohit brought up his half-century off 83 balls, with seven hits to the fence.

Shortly afterwards, with the score on 192, he retired-out after scoring 59 runs (101 balls, seven fours) to give a chance to Ambati Rayudu (49) to get a feel for the conditions. At the other end, Rahane too completed his half-century off 91 balls, with three fours and one six. With the Indian total past 200, he too walked off, having scored 60 runs off 97 balls (five fours, one six) and Wriddhiman Saha (4) came out to bat. The Bengal wicket-keeper couldn’t stay for long, as he was bowled by Jono Boult (1-74). R Ashwin then came to the crease and put on 66 quick runs with Rayudu, playing some exotic shots on both sides of the wicket. Ashwin scored 46 runs, off 57 balls, with six fours and two sixes, and was the last batsman out four over s before the end.

The match meandered and finished in the 93rd over with Rayudu staying unbeaten on 49. He faced 93 balls and hit five fours, with Bhuvneshwar Kumar (3), rounding up a decent outing with the bat for the visitors.

Brief Scores

New Zealand XI: 262/9 dec; India: 313/7 declared in 93 overs (Ajinkya Rahane 60, Rohit Sharma 59, Rayudu 49, Ashwin 46; Ill Tugaga 1-56, Shawn Hick 1-8).

‘Got what we wanted from tour tie’

WHANGAREI:
Stand-in captain Rohit Sharma on Monday said India got ‘what they wanted’ before going into the first Test against New Zealand at the Eden Park in Auckland, starting 6 February. ‘We got what we wanted from this practice game. All the batsmen got in and made some runs which is a good sign before a Test series. We are ready and both the batsmen and the bowlers got what they wanted from this match. I am happy with how things went in the last two days,’ Rohit, who scored a half-century along with Ajinkya Rahane, said at the post-match press conference.
Apart from Rohit and Rahane, Ambati Rayudu (49 n.o.) and Ravichandran Ashwin also got some useful batting practice. Test specialist Cheteshwar Pujara scored 33 runs while Ashwin also had a good time with the ball taking 2/46.

Among bowlers, Ishant Sharma (2/58), Zaheer Khan (1/42) and Umesh Yadav (1/70) were also among the wickets, but the most impressive bowler was unheralded Ishwar Pandey with figures of 3/42. Rohit had words of praise for young Pandey. ‘Pandey bowled really well. Given the conditions, he stuck to his plans and he got rewarded with three wickets. All the other three fast bowlers also did well. They did not get the wickets they wanted, but Pandey was the one who got really stuck there,’ said Rohit. He said it was important to rotate all his bowlers unlike the New Zealand XI, who gave their bowlers longer spells.

‘If you look at their bowling analysis, they probably bowled 15 overs each, which is pretty good on day one. We had to rotate the bowlers, and we had to see all the fast bowlers who were in the squad. Everyone got what they needed to get out of this game. We are looking good and raring to go for the Test series,’ he added.

Rohit defended yet another poor show by Shikhar Dhawan (26) and Murali Vijay not making the most of the batting time in match situation. ‘I won’t say it is disappointing that they didn’t bat longer. They had a decent outing in the middle. They got a feel. It is always disappointing to not get runs. It is not an issue. I am sure it is a matter of one good innings and things will change quickly. That is what I feel and I am sure those guys also feel the same,’ said the stand-in skipper, come to the rescue of his batsmen.

The Indian team now leaves for Auckland on Tuesday and then they have a short turn-around of only one day before the first Test begins in Eden Park on 6 February. ‘We knew it was going to be very hectic. Mentally, we have got to be ready and everyone is ready. Touchwood, there are no injuries. We travel tomorrow, get a day off tomorrow and next day we might have practice before the Test. It is always going to be hectic, all about how you adapt to all this mentally.’

Rohit says also said with MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli coming back into the playing XI for the Test match, it will be a good session together before the match commences.
Next Story
Share it