Cricket News: Taylor’s 73* helps NZ to revive after sudden collapse

A stunning collapse that saw New Zealand lose seven wickets for 55 runs threatened to take the hosts out of the equation at the halfway stage. However, a smart, unbeaten 73 from Ross Taylor allowed them to recover and post a fairly competitive 273.

New Zealand were 142/1 at one stage with a well-set Martin Guptill taking charge, and threatening to blow India out of the series. After being put into bat, the hosts had got just the kind of start they’d hoped for from the openers, Guptill and Henry Nicholls, who added a brisk 93. Guptill took the attack to India, hitting their spearhead Jasprit Bumrah for 14 runs in an over.

With ramps and flicks dominating his array of strokes, Guptill put India under some early pressure. And it continued against India’s second line of attack as well, with Nicholls too adding to the carnage. However, India’s spin change for the game – Yuzvendra Chahal – broke through trapping Nicholls LBW for 41. But that did little to stymie the momentum.

Guptill, along with Tom Blundell, put on 49 for the second wicket as well before the latter’s rush of blood saw him hitting Shardul Thakur straight to mid on. That wicket, also triggered a change in fortunes for the sides. Soon Martin Guptill and James Neesham were run out, misjudging quick singles, and in between skipper Tom Latham was out LBW missing a sweep against Ravindra Jadeja. Colin de Grandhomme, Mark Chapman and Tim Southee all fell giving catches off miscued shots, as New Zealand slipped to 197/8 by the 42nd over.

Ross Taylor, who had seen through a major chunk of the collapse from the other end, finally got a steady hand at the other end in the form of debutant Kyle Jamieson. Taking calculated risks and targetting the short boundaries with great accuracy, Taylor picked up yet another ODI fifty that allowed New Zealand to stay in the game.