Rohit Sharma chose to bat first against New Zealand, even though he thought it might be a bit tricky early on. Rohit didn’t perhaps consider that India might not make it as far as ‘later on’.
Sharma himself did well though. He made two runs, which – until number 11 Mohammed Siraj entered the scene – would have been enough to earn him a joint ‘top innings run-scorers’ podium position.
Rishabh Pant made 20 (after being dropped on 7), Yashasvi Jaiswal made 13 and Kuldeep Yadav was the other big success story with 2.
Alas, Rohit and Kuldeep’s joint third-placed glory was short-lived, because right at the end of the innings, Siraj waltzed out, cool as you like, and hit a quarter of India’s boundaries (one).
There it goes!
Siraj didn’t score any other runs. That meant he had to settle for being third-highest scorer, along with Extras.
A quick word too for India’s seventh-highest scorer, Ravindra Jadeja, who made probably the most horrible duck of the day.
Here is Jadeja, a left-hander, getting caught at gully.
Just to be 100% clear, gully is waaaay off to the right.
With ‘early on’ safely out of the way, New Zealand put on 67 runs for their first wicket and then also surpassed India’s innings total (46) for their second wicket too.
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In their first innings, NZ have now scored almost 4x India’s first innings score – with 7 wickets left. I wonder what the highest ratio between innings is? Has any side scored 10x what the other side got?
Apologies, I know this isn’t a stats site but that’s all I’ve got to offer on this match. Other than bemusement.
We would guess this one’s top of the tree:
https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/south-africa-tour-of-england-1924-61820/england-vs-south-africa-1st-test-62539/full-scorecard
And here’s a surprisingly recent example.
https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/bangladesh-in-wi-and-usa-2018-1146712/west-indies-vs-bangladesh-1st-test-1146717/full-scorecard
We’d also like to highlight this next one because of how demented it was.
https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/new-zealand-tour-of-pakistan-2002-62114/pakistan-vs-new-zealand-1st-test-63989/full-scorecard
Inzamam made a triple hundred, then Shoaib Akhtar took 6-11 to bowl New Zealand out for 73 – but then Shoaib didn’t bowl at all in the second innings because he had a swollen ankle.
Oh and Shahid Afridi opened the batting and got a golden duck.
Honestly, just lovely stuff all round. We really miss that era of Pakistan cricket.
That NZ-Pakistan match most have been something. Who says you need a contest to make an entertaining match?
And now NZ need about 630 to probably set a record. C’mon you Kiwis! Could be a good week for Pakistan cricket fans…
Aussie Aussie Aussie, Out Out Out!
Every team at the Women’s T20 World Cup will finish the competition with at least one loss. Sadly for England and Australia, they have chosen poorly which was the one game they would lose…
So, with regard to the other subcontinental test match, when was the last time there were two 10 wickets hauls in the same match by the same team. Just pre-empting.
Ah well. Almost. Sajid looked a little glum.
‘What therefore Bazball have joined together, let Noman put asunder’