Kaif ton guides India home
2005-09-02 17:21
Harare, Zimbabwe - India pulled off a 279-run chase to beat New Zealand by six wickets in a one-day international here on Friday, earning victory with 15 balls to spare.
Mohammad Kaif topscored for India in this fifth match of a triangular tournament, hitting 11 boundaries in his 102-run haul.
The victory represents a considerable psychological advantage over the Kiwis ahead of their tournament final here next Tuesday, especially as it was the New Zealanders' first defeat on the tour.
Spirited start
After a spirited start to the India innings by captain Sourav Ganguly and Virender Sehwag, there seemed little doubt they would succeed in getting past the New Zealand total of 278-9 even though they lost two wickets for 75 runs, Ganguly for 19 and Virender Sehwag for 45.
A third wicket partnership of 101 between Rahul Dravid and Kaif put India in the driving seat, which they didn't look like relinquishing.
That partnership, before Dravid went for 39 after playing a relatively passive but reassuring role, effectively set the seal on a fine India performance.
New Zealand's challenge of 278 was set mainly by contributions from four batsmen - Stephen Fleming 47, Lou Vincent 37, Scott Styris 56 and Craig McMillan 40.
There was one good partnership, of 85 between Styris and McMillan.
Flurry of boundries
A flurry of boundaries by the Kiwis near the end of their innings pushed the total to a level that seemed to present a really strong challenge.
It always looked as though it might be tight, but in the 48th over, India's Mahendra Dhoni hit Jeetan Patel for two consecutive balls and the India dressing room was able to celebrate victory.
Man of the match was, unsurprisingly, 24-year-old Kaif. Stephen Fleming said he thought this match was a good lesson to learn ahead of their forthcoming tour of South Africa.
"We can see just where our improvements need to be made" he said.
India captain Ganguly praised his batsmen, especially Kaif, and added: "We play Zimbabwe on Sunday here and that will offer an ideal opportunity to polish our performances."
- AP