Auckland pitch to India’s liking

EDEN PARK (AUCKLAND), JAN 15: Perhaps for the first time on this tour India will go into a match as favourites to win. Indian commentator...

EDEN PARK (AUCKLAND), JAN 15: Perhaps for the first time on this tour India will go into a match as favourites to win. Indian commentators accompanying the tour say that Indian teams are always encouraged after winning, yet appear to find difficulty lifting their game when things are not going well for them. Although the second match in the series– the day/night encounter at Napier– which was narrowly won by India wasn’t a great cricketing spectacle, the win boosted India’s confidence and they were very keen yesterday.

The pitch at Eden Park will suit the Indians because the bounce is lower and the pitch is slower than the ones which have been played so far. I would expect to see the India spin bowlers restrict the Black Caps batsmen with the conditions probably resembling more the Indian type of pitches. These conditions will also please the Indian batsmen, and give the New Zealand spectators another opportunity to see some of the best batsmen in the world in action.

Conditions were unplayable on thereserve day for the third one-day international, scheduled at the Basin Reserve in Wellington. Steady rain and a very wet outfield ruined any chance of replay after the scheduled first day was abandoned. The series remains tied at 1-1, with two matches to play.

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The only consolation for both teams was to hear the individual match statistics from yesterday’s abandoned match will officially become part of their records. This will certainly please Gavin Larsen, who captured his 100th one-day wicket when he had Sachin Tendulkar stumped by Adam Parore.

Bryan Young with a solid 52 rekindled his international career with a magnificent display of strokeplay, equal to that of the master Sachin Tendulkar and the in-form Rahul Dravid.

Dravid and Azharuddin will also be pleased to see their career records enhanced with their classy contributions. Dravid continues to impress with his run feast in New Zealand conditions. His 68, followed by a lovely 52 by his captain, ensured that India reached a respectabletotal.

Gavin Larsen now joins a select band of New Zealand bowlers who have captured 100 one-day international wickets. Richard Hadlee 158, Ewen Chatfield 142, Danny Morrison 126, Martin Snedden 114, Chris Harris 111, Chris Pringle 103, have all reached the milestone. Just as importantly, Larsen’s economy rate, conceding only 3.7 runs per over is world class, although yesterday, like all the bowlers, he came in for punishment and in an uncharacteristic performance he conceded 56 runs from six overs.