Dhoni ticks all boxes

India destroy NZ by 117 runs in the final practice game.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni must be a happy man. After two warm-up games most things have gone his way. India have two wins in as many practice games the 117-run win over New Zealand on Wednesday even more emphatic than the 38-run verdict over Australia on Sunday.

On Wednesday,Dhoni made his outing with the bat count,a murderous unbeaten 108 off 64 balls boosting India to 360 for five. In all 193 runs were scored in the last 16 overs,thanks to the quickfire 124-run partnership between Dhoni and an equally aggressive Suresh Raina who made a half-century. Up the order Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli provided stability after the openers,Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag,fell early.

Come Saturday,Raina should warm the benches against Bangladesh as Dhoni revealed that Kohli,in a rich vein of form,will bat at No.4 ahead of Yuvraj Singh. After the game Dhoni said that he had ticked most of the boxes going into the World Cup opener.

The slow bowlers,who had spun a web around Australia in the first practice game, once again played their role to perfection Yuvraj,Harbhajan Singh and Piyush Chawla picking up two wickets each. Also the batting combination was finalised.

Kohli gets the nod

Virat will bat at No.4 and on current form he has the edge over Raina. Yuvraj as of now is doing the role of a left-arm spinner well. He remains a match-winner with the bat, Dhoni said after the win over New Zealand. Yuvraj didnt bat on Wednesday and Raina made 50 off just 26 balls but it was the confidence with which Kohli bats these days that is a calming influence on the team.

The Gambhir-Kohli partnership of 106-runs put India firmly back in the game. Raina stood up and clapped,like everyone else in the dressing room,as Kohli raised his bat on reaching the half-century mark. Raina also made a significant contribution in a One-day International since October. But this one innings wasnt good enough to break into the playing XI. Dhoni more or less confirmed this at the end of the game.

Kohli picked maximum runs with minimum effort by using the pace of the bowlers. The clip on the on side and the cover drive came into play often while Kohli was at the wicket.

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Dhonis first half-century in five and a half months,though in a warm-up game meant the skipper would feel good about his game now.

He hit 11 boundaries in all seven in a row and the first five came off the New Zealand paceman Jacob Oram. Heaves over mid-wicket,strong drives and fine touches marked Dhonis innings.

The Black Caps were never in the chase after they lost three quick middle-order wickets those of James Franklin,Ross Taylor and Jesse Ryder between the 24th and 26th over.

Brief Scores: India 360 for five in 50 overs MS Dhoni 108,G Gambhir 89,V Kohli 59,S Raina 50; T Southee 2/67,J Oram 2/70 vs New Zealand 243 all out in 43.1 overs B McCullum 58,M Guptill 38; Harbhajan Singh 2/17