A brutal destroyer of the bowling, answering to the name of Yusuf Pathan, stood between the Kiwis and their first win on this tour of India.
The 28-year-old all-rounder, one of the most feared strikers of the cricket ball, couldn’t have picked a more opportune moment to bring up his maiden limited-overs hundred, an effort that positively knocked the stuffing out of New Zealand on Tuesday night.
James Franklin (98 n.o., 69b, 12x4, 3x6) had conjured a like effort in the afternoon as the Kiwis enjoyed being invited to make first use of the excellent batting conditions at the Chinnaswamy stadium, motoring to 315 for seven.
During a large slice of the Indian chase, that total appeared more than adequate, two mini-collapses leaving India gasping at 108 for four when Pathan (123 n.o., 96b, 7x4, 7x6) strode out to the middle.
Three hours later – including one lost to a rain delay – the hosts were home and dry, romping to 321 for five.
Their five-wicket victory with seven deliveries to spare gave India a 4-0 lead, and consigned New Zealand to their tenth straight loss.
There is little about the right-hander that suggests the tremendous power that lies within that lanky frame.
On song, though, there are few men in international cricket who possess the ability to inflict such damage on the opposition as Pathan can, as New Zealand found out the hard way.
Pathan’s wasn’t a one-gear, all-out aggressive approach. The first part of his century, not without pyrotechnics, was methodically constructed because he wasn’t unaware of the need to stabilise the innings after the top-order had let the team down for the first time.
The second half, however, was another story altogether. Alongside Saurabh Tiwary, Pathan was just beginning to steady the ship after losing Rohit Sharma following an 80-run (83b) stand when the rains came down.
When play resumed, the target remained unaltered. India needed 113 more for victory off 84 deliveries, and Pathan cut loose in spectacular fashion.
The first ball on resumption, from Daniel Vettori, was deposited on the roof over mid-wicket as Pathan brought up his 50 off as many deliveries.
Then, he went on a boundary-hitting spree, the next 50 consuming just 29 deliveries including 21 from the last over of the batting Power Play sent down by Kyle Mills as he dominated a stand of 133 (94b) with the left-handed Tiwary, playing his first match of the competition.
Tiwary, Rohit and Parthiv Patel, all drafted in for this game, had good outings, the first-named bringing up victory with a six over long-on off Nathan McCullum, but the same can’t be said of Praveen Kumar, coming in for Munaf Patel.
Wayward spell
The medium-pacer was wayward in his first spell and promptly punished by Martin Guptill and Brendon McCullum as the Kiwis got off to a flier. Runs came at a furious clip as India felt the heat, but when Gautam Gambhir turned to Ashish Nehra, his go-to man delivered with two wickets in the space of ten deliveries.
New Zealand kept coming hard through McCullum and Styris, while Ross Taylor booked himself in for the long haul in front of a raucous gathering – which, it must be stressed, waited patiently during the rain delay – but New Zealand were still some way short of a competitive total.
Franklin had brought up his maiden half-century three days back and he built on it in sumptuous fashion, like Pathan starting carefully before upping the ante towards the end.
India’s death bowling, a perennial Achilles’ heel, came to haunt them again as the last five overs leaked 63 and Nehra’s last went for 22, 21 to Franklin, but Pathan’s brilliance made sure that didn’t cost them the match.
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