Player of the Match
Player of the Match

On a small ground and with exactly five bowling options, 306 always looked short; and Latham's execution made us believe India were far, far away from what was par. It was an enjoyable innings in the end, putting into oblivion three half-centuries from India's batters and a special finishing act from Sundar. We now head to Hamilton, where the visitors must win to remain alive in the series. Until then, it is goodnight and goodbye from Raghav, Chandan, Hemant and me, Himanshu!

Deepankar DM: "All things considered, we have witnessed one of the best"

Tristan : "Kane knows many 100s are to come. He's not worried. Better let the chap having a worldie have more strike in this game. Legend"

Williamson still has only half a smile on his face: "It was a competitive total. If you build partnerships here at Eden Park, you can chase anything. Incredible innings from Tom Latham. On these drop-in pitches, you bowl full and straight, and it can be difficult. It was one of the most special ODI knocks I have seen. You are always in the game with the dimensions. Spin played a big role today. The seamers did an excellent job. There were moments when we put them under pressure. Nice to make a contribution, and with Tommy going the way he was, it was about complementing."

Dhawan speaks after the result: "We felt good with the total. The ball was seaming in the first 15 overs. This ground is a bit different than other grounds. We bowled a lot on a short of a length, and Latham attacked. We misfielded on a few balls. But as I said, we were quite short to Latham, and that's where he took the game away. He hit four boundaries in the 40th over, and that's where the game shifted. Surely lots of learning for the boys."

No prizes for guessing, Latham is the Player of the Match: "Just one of those days when everything comes off. Having a bit of fun in the end... It was nice to put the ball in the gaps and run hard. I guess the preparation has been nice... Washington Sundar was getting a bit of turn. Small ground, so you can capitalise in the end. Nice partnership with Kane, who played beautifully."

10.20pm New Zealand needed 144 off the last 18 overs, and they got it with 17 balls left. Latham was on 36 off 43 at that stage; he ends on 145* off 104 in the end. A career-best knock that makes the opposition bowling look ordinary. Williamson plays a selfless part - he never looked rushed despite coming so close to a century - as Latham wiped India out of the game at will.

47.1
4
Arshdeep Singh to Williamson, FOUR, and he produces that irritating dab with that typically exaggerated hip movement across for four! Beats deep third to his right, and New Zealand go 1-0 up in the series. Good length delivery outside off, and Williamson pokes at it as calmly as he has done all his life

Two to win. Arshdeep is back from around the wicket, with six men inside the circle.

Neil: "This is annoyingly selfless from Williamson. He's had a bit of a drought, has a good shot at scoring a ton, but choses to feed strike to the form batsman instead"

END OF OVER:
47 | 9 Runs | NZ: 305/3 (2 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 6.48, RRR: 0.66)

  • Tom Latham145 (104b)
  • Kane Williamson90 (97b)
  • Shardul Thakur9-1-63-1
  • Yuzvendra Chahal10-0-67-0
46.6
4
Thakur to Latham, FOUR, pulled to deep midwicket! Thakur again bowls short - which he has done pretty much all day - as Latham rides the bounce and slaps the ball away
46.5
0
Thakur to Latham, no run, a yorker around fifth stump, and Latham tries to jam but misses
46.4
1
Thakur to Williamson, 1 run, opens the bat face to dab this good length ball in the channel to deep third. In the 90s now, though he shouldn't really get to triple figures from here
46.3
1
Thakur to Latham, 1 run, another shortish length outside off. Pulled to deep square leg to get to his highest ODI score

Adarsh: "Latham's 150 is looking more likely than Williamson's 100"

46.2
2
Thakur to Latham, 2 runs, swat-pulls this slower ball on a shortish length just outside off. A couple more to deep midwicket

Haxx: "No chill from Latham, not even trying to give Kane a chance"

46.1
1
Thakur to Williamson, 1 run, clips this good length ball angling in, and gets a single to deep square

Thakur returns. Can Williamson still get to a hundred?

END OF OVER:
46 | 14 Runs | NZ: 296/3 (11 runs required from 24 balls, RR: 6.43, RRR: 2.75)

  • Tom Latham138 (100b)
  • Kane Williamson88 (95b)
  • Yuzvendra Chahal10-0-67-0
  • Arshdeep Singh8-0-64-0
45.6
4
Chahal to Latham, FOUR, misfield by Malik at deep backward square leg! He ran and dived to his left, but alas! Latham saw a full ball outside off, and decided to drill another sweep, fetching three more than what he would have thought of
45.5
0
Chahal to Latham, no run, nudges this short delivery to the man at midwicket
45.4
4
Chahal to Latham, FOUR, from the back of the bat! Reverse sweeps this full ball on middle and off, and just tickles this past the keeper for four more

This stand is now worth 200 (and many more)

45.3
4
Chahal to Latham, FOUR, just short of six! Rocks back to another short ball - albeit bowled slower - as it turns in to end on middle and off. Four to wide long-on
45.2
1
Chahal to Williamson, 1 run, swats this short ball outside off, which turns away further. Single to deep point

Williamson 13 away from a hundred

45.1
1
Chahal to Latham, 1 run, reverse sweeps this fullish ball on middle to deep backward point

END OF OVER:
45 | 13 Runs | NZ: 282/3 (25 runs required from 30 balls, RR: 6.26, RRR: 5.00)

  • Tom Latham125 (95b)
  • Kane Williamson87 (94b)
  • Arshdeep Singh8-0-64-0
  • Yuzvendra Chahal9-0-53-0
44.6
1
Arshdeep Singh to Latham, 1 run, fires what seemed like a potential yorker, but it ended up being an inswinging yorker on middle. Clipped to fine leg, which is placed pretty straight

Luke: "If he remains not out, Williamson is at risk of being stranded on 95*, not that he'll mind!!!" --- With Latham in that mood, Williamson might not even get to the 90s

44.5
1
Arshdeep Singh to Williamson, 1 run, clips this fullish ball outside off to midwicket

Around the wicket to Williamson. A short cover in place

44.4
1
Arshdeep Singh to Latham, 1 run, and little Latham now has a big slide. He slips after completing the run, as he pushes this full ball outside off to mid-off, from where Dhawan throws wide of the stumps at the bowler's end
44.3
6
Arshdeep Singh to Latham, SIX, whatever he hits turns to boundaries! Sees a good length ball on off, and swivels to pull over fine leg for another big six. Nobody can stop him today
44.2
0
Arshdeep Singh to Latham, no run, pretty full ball just outside off, and hammed to point

New Zealand 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st35DP ConwayFH Allen
2nd33KS WilliamsonDP Conway
3rd20KS WilliamsonDJ Mitchell
4th221KS WilliamsonTWM Latham