Player of the Match
Player of the Match

New Zealand were 169 for 8 and it looked all but over. The Indians were waiting for the end, some of us had started to discuss Ajit Agarkar, some even were thinking about Justin Green but Kyle Mills and McCullum took NZ to 236. And just when you think you had a game on, as it often happens, the tail froze. Game over. The highlight of the game was Virat Kohli's hundred.

Please do hang on for the quotes from the post-match ceremony.

Please do read the bulletin by Sid Monga.

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Taylor: " You wanted some early wickets but Vijay and Gambhir batted well. Also Virat Kohli. We couldn't take early wickets as they did to us. Disappointing result. Martin Guptill batted well but we lost 3-4 wickets. Kyle Mills and Nathan McCullum got us close but Virat had played well and I think took the game away from us.Hopefully we can pick ourselves up and play well in the next game."

Gambhir: "Leading the first side and to get the first win under your belt is very satisfying. Everyone chipped in and Virat went on to score a big one. I am happy with the team's effort. We also would have bowled first on this wicket as there was a lot for the bowlers. So the game plan was to just stay there and try not to lose too many in the first ten overs. As a captain, I am taking one game per time. I would like to say that Ashwin bowled brilliantly. Nehra and other bowlers too bowled well. "

Man of the match is Virat Kohli: " It feels good. I went out there and continue my form . HOpefully I can continue in the next few games. I had a kind of a lean patch in Sri Lanka recently; the team-mates and coach backed me. I would like to thank them. I try to probably stop myself if I feel like playing a big shot and enjoy the singles. I have been lucky that we have had strike players in the other end. My role is to bat long and put the team in a good position."

That's it from us. Good bye and good luck.

45.2
W
Sreesanth to Mills, OUT, And India have won. It was the short delivery and Mills top edged the pull. It climbed ever so high until gravity started to drag it down. And Saha collects that. Game over.

KD Mills c †Saha b Sreesanth 32 (42m 28b 2x4 2x6) SR: 114.28

45.1
W
Sreesanth to McCullum, OUT, What a catch from the captain! McCullum carved it over covers - he didn't quite connect it but it still seemed he had cleared the field .. Gautam dashed back from cover and lunged forward to take the ball dropping in from over his shoulder. A youtube moment. Reminds me of Roshan Mahanama. Fine innings but its over now

NL McCullum c Gambhir b Sreesanth 35 (50m 35b 4x4 0x6) SR: 100.00

END OF OVER:
45 | 7 Runs | NZ: 236/8 (41 runs required from 30 balls, RR: 5.24, RRR: 8.20)

  • Kyle Mills32 (27b)
  • Nathan McCullum35 (34b)
  • Ashish Nehra9-0-44-1
  • Munaf Patel8-0-39-0
44.6
0
Nehra to Mills, no run, full and straight, pushed back to the bowler
44.5
4
Nehra to Mills, FOUR, They keep coming. NZ stay in the game. This was a full toss outside off and Mills gets a fat edge on the drive down to third man boundary
44.4
0
Nehra to Mills, no run, fullish around off, squeezed back to the bowler
44.3
2
Nehra to Mills, 2 runs, leans forward to flick it past square-leg

Just felt like dropping two names here: Angelo Mathews and Malinga ... Now then .. Now then ...!

44.2
1
Nehra to McCullum, 1 run, he moved outside leg, Nehra followed him, pushed out to point
44.1
0
Nehra to McCullum, no run, gets forward to drive to mid-off

Deepak with the ultimate Ajit tribute: "In a 1 player super over match up between Ajit and Justin Green, I say Ajit would win hands down :)"

END OF OVER:
44 | 13 Runs | NZ: 229/8 (48 runs required from 36 balls, RR: 5.20, RRR: 8.00)

  • Nathan McCullum34 (32b)
  • Kyle Mills26 (23b)
  • Munaf Patel8-0-39-0
  • Ashish Nehra8-0-37-1
43.6
1
Patel to McCullum, 1 run, taps this towards cover for a single
43.5
4
Patel to McCullum, FOUR, Four more! Much fun here. This was the bouncer and McCullum top edges the pull shot over the keeper. The equation now is 49 from 37 balls
43.4
2
Patel to McCullum, 2 runs, backs away and clears mid-off .. It was the slower one and he was looking to lift it to the on side i reckon
43.3
1
Patel to Mills, 1 run, the slower ones keep coming in from Munfa.. this one has been pushed down to long-off
43.2
4
Patel to Mills, FOUR, Shot! He moved outside leg and drove this dipping full toss inside out to the wide long-off boundary
43.1
1
Patel to McCullum, 1 run, slower one outside off, McCullum is slightly early into the shot and ends up dragging it down to long-on

END OF OVER:
43 | 4 Runs | NZ: 216/8 (61 runs required from 42 balls, RR: 5.02, RRR: 8.71)

  • Nathan McCullum26 (28b)
  • Kyle Mills21 (21b)
  • Ashish Nehra8-0-37-1
  • Munaf Patel7-0-26-0
42.6
1lb
Nehra to McCullum, 1 leg bye, stabs this to point for a single
42.5
0
Nehra to McCullum, no run, drags this to midwicket
42.4
1
Nehra to Mills, 1 run, not quite in the blockhole but almost there, pushed out to cover
42.3
0
Nehra to Mills, no run, moves outside leg and Nehra bangs it in short. Swing and a miss results.

Mandar: "While we give our expert opinions on Ajit, we seemed to have missed out that this match aint over yet, With McCullum and Mills hitting some lusty blows this match is far from over." Aag fans might say, "If only Agarkar was here"

42.2
1
Nehra to McCullum, 1 run, slower, on the off stump line, pushed to the off for a single
42.1
1
Nehra to Mills, 1 run, around the off stump line, run down to third man

Vivek: "I remember his 2003-04 australia tour where he grabbed 6 wickets in an innings, on the other hand I also remember WC'99 match against proteas- 42 needed off 41 and Lance Clusener smashed him all over the ground"

Rajesh: "Last 5 overs by five different bowlers....Gambhir tryingtoo much as a captain??"

END OF OVER:
42 | 7 Runs | NZ: 212/8 (65 runs required from 48 balls, RR: 5.04, RRR: 8.12)

  • Kyle Mills19 (18b)
  • Nathan McCullum25 (25b)
  • Munaf Patel7-0-26-0
  • Ashish Nehra7-0-34-1
41.6
1
Patel to Mills, 1 run, moves outside leg and pushes it to cover for a single
41.5
0
Patel to Mills, no run, backs away and pushes this fullish delivery back to the bowler .. who tries to stop it and it rolls to the stumps after touching his fingers. McCullum had just about dragged his bat inside the line
41.4
1
Patel to McCullum, 1 run, another slower one this time, pushed to covers
41.3
4
Patel to McCullum, FOUR, he leaned across to the off- and it was a full toss on the off stump line, and paddled it over short fine-leg fielder!
41.2
0
Patel to McCullum, no run, in the zone outside off, the slow leg cutter, McCullum is beaten, trying to run it down to third man

New Zealand 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st32JM HowMJ Guptill
2nd14MJ GuptillKS Williamson
3rd67LRPL TaylorKS Williamson
4th18SB StyrisLRPL Taylor
5th5GD ElliottLRPL Taylor
6th8DR TuffeyLRPL Taylor
7th13GJ HopkinsLRPL Taylor
8th12GJ HopkinsNL McCullum
9th67KD MillsNL McCullum
10th0KD MillsAJ McKay