Wasim Jaffer, the former India opener stated that experienced pacer Mohammed Shami was unlucky in the last few games as he was not getting rewards for his efforts. He was thus pleased to see the bowler’s hard work bearing fruit in the second ODI in Raipur.
Mohammed Shami was the Player of the Match in the second one-dayer against New Zealand on Saturday, January 21 for his figures of 3/18 in six overs. After India won the toss and decided to field first, the Men in Blue bundled out the Kiwis for 108 in 34.3 overs. The hosts then gunned down the target in 20.1 overs, with eight wickets in hand.
Wasim Jaffer Thinks Mohammed Shami Got What He Deserved To Get In The 2nd ODI And Was Well Complemented By Mohammed Siraj And Hardik Pandya
Hailing the Indian bowling effort, Wasim Jaffer reserved special praise for Mohammed Shami. Wasim Jaffer said the Indian bowlers bowled a consistent length against the Kiwis.
While reviewing the Raipur ODI, the former cricketer said: “I thought they (Mohammed Siraj and Shami) bowled that corridor length which you bowl in a Test match. They bowled that consistently. Shami bowled the length that he usually bowls. He was a little bit unlucky in the last few games.”
The 44-year-old said Mohammed Shami bowled really well against New Zealand, adding that he was very well complimented by Mohammed Siraj and Hardik Pandya.
“He beat the bat far too many times. But today, I thought he got what he deserved to get. He bowled really well, complemented by Siraj and even Hardik (Pandya), with those couple of wickets. I thought India bowled really well.”
Photo by Pankaj Nangia / Sportzpics for BCCI
Wasim Jaffer added that he expected a better fight from New Zealand after the manner in which he came back in Hyderabad.
Terming the Kiwi batters as tentative, he elaborated: “Surprising to see New Zealand fizzle out like that. It was a pretty good pitch, although it wasn’t a high-scoring one. The tentativeness in New Zealand’s batters probably made India look a lot better, but Siraj and Shami, especially, bowled very well. India really outplayed them with another fine performance.”
While Mohammed Shami claimed a three-fer in the second ODI, Hardik Pandya and Washington Sundar picked up two wickets apiece. Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav and Shardul Thakur helped themselves to one wicket each.
Mohammed Shami’s reassuring presence is extremely vital in India’s ODI set-up at a time when Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has been unavailable mostly due to injury. On Saturday, Mohammed Shami proved his worth yet again, destroying the opposition New Zealand’s top-order and was awarded Man of the Match for picking 3/18 in the 2nd ODI.
Wasim Jaffer Feels Winning The Inconsequential 3rd ODI Will Make India World No. 1 ODI Side Which Will Be A Great Boost For Them
While have already won the series 2-0, a victory in the final match will see them move to the top of the ICC ODI rankings.
Speaking about the importance of the next game for the Men in Blue, Wasim Jaffer said: “Winning that (3rd) ODI will make them the world No.1 side in the format. Lots to look forward to for them. They are T20 World No.1, being ODI No. 1 will be a great boost.”
India are currently third in the one-day rankings, after England and New Zealand. The third one-dayer will be played at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore on January 24.
Stifling Test-match style bowling from Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj caused the early damage, after India won the toss, to reduce New Zealand to 9 for 3. Hardik Pandya bowled three maidens and picked up 2 for 16 from six overs as New Zealand slipped to 15 for 5, with their top five falling in single digits, after 10.3 overs before they recovered somewhat.
India 111 for 2 (Rohit 51, Gill 40*) beat New Zealand 108 (Phillips 36, Shami 3-18, Washington 2-7, Hardik 2-16) by eight wickets