Day: June 22, 2021

Dubai, June 22, 2021 (PPI-OT): Tim Southee enjoyed a fine day with bat and ball to put New Zealand in a strong position heading into the reserve day of the ICC World Test Championship Final in Southampton.

The 32-year-old scored a quickfire 30 before removing both Indian openers in an absorbing final session, with India leading by 32.

Starting the day trailing by 116 runs, New Zealand began patiently, with Kane Williamson anchoring the innings, but three wickets before lunch opened the door for India.

However, cameos from Kyle Jamieson and Southee were enough to secure a 32-run first innings lead to sit in the driver’s seat in the push for a result.

Southee then removed Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma with some clever inswing in tricky batting conditions.

New Zealand made a circumspect start to the day, with runs hard to come by after a delayed start.

It took more than four overs for the first runs off the bat, and just 16 were scored in the first hour of play.

That pressure eventually told, with Ross Taylor driving on the up off Mohammed Shami, caught by a diving Gill for 11.

Henry Nicholls followed soon after for seven, caught by Rohit Sharma off the bowling of Ishant Sharma before Shami cleaned up BJ Watling for one as New Zealand slipped to 135/5 at lunch.

If the first session belonged to India, New Zealand fought back in the second, playing with greater intent, with Colin de Grandhomme’s drive for four to kick off the session an indication of what would follow.

The all-rounder fell leg before to Shami for 13, but Jamieson came in and hammered 21 off just 16 deliveries, including one huge heave over long-on off Shami.

The Indian quick had his revenge the very next ball, as Jamieson hit a top-edge to Jasprit Bumrah at long leg.

All the while, Williamson was plugging away at the other end, eventually dismissed for 49 after 177 deliveries, caught by Virat Kohli as he was tempted to play a wide one by Ishant Sharma.

His strike rate of 27.7 is the lowest he has had in an innings where he has reached 20, an indication of just how hard he had to dig in, but while he missed out on a half-century, New Zealand had the lead by the time he departed.

At 221 for eight, the tail was given licence to have a go, and Southee took full advantage. He hit two sixes and a four in his 46-ball 30 putting on some valuable runs with Neil Wagner (0) and Trent Boult (5 not out) before he was the last man out, bowled off his pads by Ravindra Jadeja.

To challenge for the win, New Zealand needed some early wickets, and Gill fell for eight as Southee brought one back in to pin him leg before with the deficit still at eight.

Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara knuckled down but another Southee inswinger did for the former, failing to play a shot as he went LBW for 30.

Pujara and Kohli saw out the remainder of the session and will return on Wednesday looking to build on India’s lead of 32.

The ICC confirmed that the reserve day would be utilised with a maximum of 98 overs (83 plus 15) to be bowled and play to begin at 10.30 a.m. BST

Scores in brief:

India v New Zealand, at the Hampshire Bowl, Southampton.

India 217 in 92.1 overs (Ajinkya Rahane 49, Virat Kohli 44; Kyle Jamieson 5/31, Neil Wagner 2/40)

New Zealand 249 in 99.2 overs (Devon Conway 54, Kane Williamson 49, Tom Latham 30, Tim Southee 30; Mohammed Shami 4/76, Ishant Sharma 3/48, Ravichandran Ashwin 2/28)

India 64/2 in 30 overs (Rohit Sharma 30; Tim Southee 2/17)

For more information, contact:
Headquarters,
International Cricket Council (ICC)
Street 69, Dubai Sports City,
Sh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE
Phone: +97-143828800
Fax: +97-143828600
E-mail: enquiry@icc-cricket.com
Website: www.icc-cricket.com

Dubai, June 22, 2021 (PPI-OT): Tim Southee became only the second New Zealander ever to take 600 international wickets and claims it’s because he is always looking to add to his game.

Now 32, Southee followed in the footsteps of Daniel Vettori when he removed India opener Shubman Gill in the evening session of the World Test Championship Final, also adding the scalp of Rohit Sharma before the close of play on day five.

Both wickets came from inswingers, with Southee setting up the batsmen with his standard outswinger before bringing one back to fool them.

And he explained that it is a part of his game that he has been working on in an effort to increase his wicket-taking threat.

He said: “As the game goes on and the wicket starts to deteriorate, you try to bring in the stumps a little bit more. It was nice to see one nip back in first up and then a little bit of a hint of swing back in as well.

“As a player you are always looking at different ways to expand your game and that’s been one of the ways I’ve looked to develop my game over the last wee while. It’s something I will continue to work on over time and try to keep adding to my game.

“Any time you have milestones like that, it’s nice. If you play for long enough, you tick off a few milestones along the way. It’s a nice achievement, when I started I certainly didn’t think I’d be sitting here after taking 600 so it’s nice but hopefully there’s plenty more to come tomorrow and in the coming years.”

Southee’s wickets left India 64 for two at the close leading by 32 runs heading into Wednesday’s reserve day.

The Black Caps are in the stronger position to force a result, with runs proving hard to come by for both teams.

The first hour could dictate how the teams approach the remainder of the match, with India’s bowlers having done a good job to restrict New Zealand on day five.

Mohammed Shami led the charge, taking four for 76, to bowl the Kiwis out for 249. And Shami admits that India’s hopes will depend on their batsmen making a strong start to proceedings.

He said: “Our bowlers have bowled well in the match so far. We have to bowl as a unit going forward, have to work depending on the resources at our disposal.

“I wanted to keep it tight. The idea was to restrict them, bowl in the right areas. We carried on with the momentum, getting wickets in ones and twos.

“I can’t say how much we can dismiss them for in the fourth innings of the match. We need time and a plan, which we will obviously work out. We will need runs on the board and backup.

“Whenever the team has needed me, I have given my 100 per cent. I always try to attack, go for the wickets. Once the captain guides me on where to bowl, I focus on doing that, trying to maintain the kind of line and length expected from me.

“I never regret missing out on five-wicket hauls or other such achievements. Such thoughts don’t cross our minds. I love playing for my country and that is it.

“In the end it is about your effort and some luck. One has to remain positive whatever the situation.”

For more information, contact:
Headquarters,
International Cricket Council (ICC)
Street 69, Dubai Sports City,
Sh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE
Phone: +97-143828800
Fax: +97-143828600
E-mail: enquiry@icc-cricket.com
Website: www.icc-cricket.com