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After Munaf Patel bowled two beamers in the 45th over,umpire Rudi Koertzen ordered his immediate ejection from the attack.

After Munaf Patel bowled two beamers in the 45th over,umpire Rudi Koertzen ordered his immediate ejection from the attack. Without much debate,Munaf took his pullover back,put it on and moved away.

It was that kind of a game for the bowlers. With 32 sixes and 64 fours being hit on a day,and 726 runs scored,the bowlers would have loved to keep a distance from the flat track in the middle of a fast outfield with short square boundaries.

Unlike in Wellington,the capacity Sunday crowd here didnt feel pinched,for they got much more than their moneys worth. However,one did need a strong pinch to realise that one was in a country which was once a fast bowlers paradise. Indias 58-run win on Sunday not only ended the debate about the team with the upper hand in the series,it also shattered the myth about New Zealands seam-friendly pitches.

It was a rare day when nine batsmen scored at a 100-plus strike rate and no target seemed safe. Even after India had scored 392,New Zealand were in the hunt for most part of the day. Two big partnerships,separated by a free fall of wickets,meant New Zealand seemed just a few bad overs away from reaching the seemingly impossible target.

Openers Jesse Ryder 80-ball 105 and Brendon McCullum 68-ball 71 together scored 166 off just 22 overs and a late-order charge by Kyle Mills 32-ball 54 almost made up for what had been a forgettable first half for the visitors. Daniel Vettoris absence and stand-in skipper McCullums decision to field were two distinct disadvantages,still New Zealand almost pulled the rug from under Indias feet.

In the final analysis,it was clear that India were better suited for the batting-friendly wicket. Virender Sehwags early wicket was a temporary relief as New Zealand got a first-hand feel of the depth in the Indian batting line-up.

Besides Sachin Tendulkar,who made an unbeaten 163,there were several other worthy contributors. Yuvraj Singh 87 and MS Dhoni 68 worked around Tendulkar to take care of the middle overs,while Suresh Rainas late assault 38 off just 18 balls,with five sixes took India near 400.

Power ploy

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The visitors judicious use of the batting power play also helped. Soon after Vettoris replacement,offie Jeetan Patel,had bowled his first over,India opted for the field restriction. Tendulkar,later,explained the game plan. We wanted Patel to bowl towards the end and change their plan. I am sure their fast bowlers were caught off guard. India plundered 69 runs between the 22nd and 27th over.

The abdomen injury forced Tendulkar to miss the rare chance to score a double hundred but Mt 392 stood at the picturesque AMI Stadium with hills in the background. As New Zealand leave for Hamilton,theyll be hoping that in the plains of Northern Island,they dont encounter run mountains.

Sandeep Dwivedi

Sandeep Dwivedi is the Sports Editor at The Indian Express. He is one of India's most prominent sports journalists, known for his deep analytical insights and storytelling that often goes beyond scores and statistics to explore the human and cultural side of sports. Professional Profile Role: As the Sports Editor, he leads the sports coverage for the newspaper and the website. Weekly Column: He writes "The Sports Column," a weekly feature where he provides sharp, narrative-driven perspectives on the biggest sporting news of the week. Podcast: He is a frequent contributor to the "Express Sports" podcast (Game Time), where he discusses evolving trends in cricket and other international sports. Areas of Expertise While Dwivedi covers the entire sporting spectrum, his work is particularly noted in the following areas: Cricket: He provides extensive coverage of the Indian National Team and the IPL. He frequently analyzes the leadership styles of figures like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Gautam Gambhir. He is known for tracking the transition phases of Indian cricket and the evolution of specific players like Kuldeep Yadav and Rishabh Pant. Athletics & Olympic Sports: He has written extensively on Neeraj Chopra’s rise in javelin, the nuances of Indian shooting, and tennis legends like Sania Mirza and Leander Paes. Human Interest Stories: A hallmark of his writing is his focus on the struggles and backgrounds of athletes, such as the sacrifices made by Shafali Verma’s father or the "silent battles" of veteran players like Cheteshwar Pujara. Notable Recent Work & Themes Leadership and Dynamics: Recently, he has written about the dynamic between Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma, arguing that personal friendship is not a prerequisite for team success. Sports & Culture: His articles often intersect with global culture, such as his deep dive into the 100-year legacy of the Harlem Globetrotters and their role as American soft power during the Cold War. The "Grey Areas" of Sport: He often addresses sensitive topics like the mental health of cricketers post-retirement, the "outrage industry" in sports broadcasting, and the impact of fan-wars on the game. Tenure and Experience Dwivedi has been with The Indian Express for over three decades. This experience allows him to provide historical context to modern sporting events, often comparing current crises or triumphs to those of previous generations. You can follow his latest work and columns on his official Indian Express Author Profile. ... Read More