India vs New Zealand 2019: ‘Good Feeling But Importantly We Won the Match’, says MOM Rohit Sharma
Jan 26, 2019 at 3:16 PM
During the second ODI at the Bay Oval, Rohit Sharma scored 87 runs and won the MOM award. Meanwhile, the India National Cricket Team won the game by 90 runs, and have taken a 2-0 lead in the five-match series. Also, Kuldeep Yadav starred with the ball, picking up four wickets. As the New Zealand batsmen failed to keep the spinners quiet for the second time in a row; they suffered a rare consecutive defeat at home in the ODIs.
Rohit gives India an ideal start
In cricket they say, a lot depends on the opener, and thankfully, Rohit had known this. During the second game, India batted first after winning the toss. The opening pair of Dhawan and Rohit didn’t allow the pressure to get built; as they scored runs at will. Though they failed to reach a three-digit mark, both reached their fifties. Not only this, when they crossed the hundred-run mark; Rohit-Dhawan surpassed the duo of Sachin and Sehwag for most century stands for India in the ODIs.
Rohit Sharma, in particular, seemed in a different mood on Saturday. In his innings of 87 runs, he hit nine boundaries and three sixes. However, he was nearing his 23rd hundred when a short-arm jab off Grandhomme saw him getting out. Later, with three forties from Kohli, Rayudu and MS Dhoni, India could post 324 for four in 50 overs.
While chasing, NZ batsmen didn’t build any of the partnerships and lost kept losing wickets at regular duration. At the end of the day, it was a four-for from Kuldeep Yadav, which saw India winning the match by 90 runs.
We didn’t know about the pitch – Rohit Sharma
Sharma, at the post-match presentation, said India didn’t know about the pitch. Furthermore, he added because of the spinners, India could take a 2-0 lead in the series.
“Good feeling (on his performance) but more importantly, we won the match. We didn’t know how the pitch will behave. The last time when SL and NZ played here, it was a high scoring game. When we got 324, we thought it was a par score and not a big score.”
“Credit to our bowlers for doing a good job. (On his 14 century stands with Dhawan) We know each other since long and have a good understanding. Important for the team to get a good start and I have always enjoyed batting with Shikhar, I am sure it’s the same for him too. Lovely ground here and it was nice to see such a big crowd on an open ground.”