Brendon McCullum gave the cricket World Cup an explosive opening, scoring a blazing 65, as New Zealand beat Sri Lanka by 98 runs on Saturday.
The immensely talented Shreyas Iyer enhanced his reputation of a finisher with a scintillating 29-ball-58, as India crushed New Zealand by six wickets in a high-scoring first T20 International in Auckland on Friday. Iyer built on KL Rahul's (56 off 27 balls) blazing start and Virat Kohli's useful 45 off 32 balls as India made short work of a 204-run target, knocking it off with an over to spare.
Images from Wednesday's World Cup match between England and New Zealand, at Chester-le-street.
It was not an ideal preparation, but New Zealand made good use of their time in the middle against a mediocre Mumbai attack on Day 1 of their only warm-up match ahead of the three-Test series against India.
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has blamed his side's famed batting line-up for the shocking loss to New Zealand in their opening match of the ICC World T20, saying they erred in "shot selection".
Sean Williams scored a maiden Test century in vain as New Zealand clinched a comprehensive innings and 117-run victory over hosts Zimbabwe on day four of the first Test in Bulawayo, on Sunday.
New Zealand Cricket officials have commissioned international security consultant and expert Reg Dickason to visit Pakistan later this week to carry out a thorough security and COVID-19 assessment before advising them whether they should send their team to Pakistan.
As troubling as it was to see Boult leaking so many runs, New Zealand fans might be as much concerned by how little he and his compatriots have played in the marquee Twenty20 tournament this year.
Martin Guptill continued his rich vein of form against Zimbabwe as he scored 91 not out to help New Zealand beat the visitors by seven wickets at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday in the first of their two Twenty20 internationals.
Tom Latham produced another masterful innings of patience and concentration as New Zealand turned the screw on Sri Lanka on the third day of the second Test at Hagley Oval, in Christchurch, on Friday.
Images from Day 2 of the third and final Test between India and New Zealand in Indore on Sunday.
While Kane Williamson's side will probably be relieved at having avoided pre-tournament favourites and hosts England, the 2015 finalists face a no less formidable opponent in India.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni's leadership as well as finishing skills will be put through a stern test when an inconsistent India take on a rejuvenated New Zealand in the series-deciding fifth and final cricket ODI in Visakhapatnam on Saturday. With the series locked at 2-2, Dhoni and his men will be eager to clinch the issue while history beckons Kane Williamson's men as they have a glorious opportunity to taste their maiden success in a bilateral ODI rubber. The only thing that can play spoilsport is the cyclone threat which can lead to complete washout.
The opening Test, also played in Karachi, ended in a draw as well.
The India right-hander has 862 points in his kitty, still 25 points behind AB de Villiers of South Africa, who is heading the list.
When New Zealander Daryl Mitchell was bought for a whopping Rs 14 crore by Chennai Super Kings during the IPL auction, he was wrapping presents for his daughter's birthday at his home and his heartbeat increased when his name popped up on the screen.
After being defied by young New Zealand batsmen Jesse Ryder and debutant Kane Williamson for almost two full sessions on Day three of the first Test, India's new ball bowler S Sreesanth maintained that the home team bowlers had performed well on the flat track at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera.
Images from Day 1 of the third Test between England and New Zealand at Headingley on Thursday, June 23, 2022.
Their opponents New Zealand, who effectively knocked India out of the World Cup, have reached Jaipur on a chartered flight from Dubai with little time to reflect on their loss to Australia in the title clash.
'Dhoni will never go to a player and ask him what field you want.' 'He will want the player to learn from his own mistakes.' 'Rohit will put his arm around your shoulder and tell you, "This is what is expected from you, you can do this".'
Kuldeep Yadav picked up four wickets, while Shikhar Dhawan hit an unbeaten half-century to power India to a crushing eight-wicket victory against New Zealand in the first ODI.
'The two fast bowlers that did play were outstanding. Bowling long overs was an unbelievable effort. We know this Indian side is a very strong one.'
He became the second-fastest cricketer in the world to reach 200 Test wickets but Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin says the thought of creating records never crossed his mind since he is 'happy competing with himself'.
New Zealand will bank heavily on reverse swing to emerge from the trial by spin that awaits them in the test series in India, coach Mike Hesson said on Tuesday. Last time they hosted a team, India rolled out turning tracks and flexed their spin muscles to crush South Africa 3-0 in the four-test series last year. Kane Williamson and his men can look forward to a similar treatment in the three-test series beginning in Kanpur on Sept. 22 but Hesson sounded upbeat.
Virat Kohli joined the national team's training session on Monday at the picturesque Arundel Castle Cricket Club.
New Zealand's planning for next year's World Cup further crystallised on Tuesday with the decision to maintain 12 of their One-Day side for their two Twenty20 matches against West Indies.
Amir, Imad recalled to Pakistan squad for NZ T20I series
India go with Ashwin and Jadeja with three seamers for WTC final
'It's not too many Chinaman bowlers going around and those coming in have all been fairly successful. It's a challenge that the guys are looking forward to'
The calm, assured manner in which New Zealand chased down South Africa's imposing total on Tuesday to advance to their first cricket World Cup final is a hallmark of a team that has developed into a cohesive unit over the last two years.
Batting first, Board President's XI made 295 for 9 in 50 overs and then bowled out the tourists for 265 in 47.4 overs.
New Zealand spinner Mitchell Santner said losing three wickets put his team under pressure and they ended up posting a below par total against India in the second One-Day International in Pune on Wednesday.
Smith (900 points) is placed second behind New Zealand captain Kane Williamson (919).
Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli rued the dropped catch of SunRisers Hyderabad batsman Kane Williamson at the fag end of the Indian Premier League Eliminator, in Abu Dhabi on Friday, saying the match could have gone in his side's way had the "difficult" chance been taken.
New Zealand lurched to 14 for two in their second innings at the close of play on the third day of the first Test against West Indies in Kingston on Tuesday although they still controlled the match with a massive 260-run lead.
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson feels that one can "learn a lot" by watching his contemporary Virat Kohli's stellar performances in the ongoing ICC World T20.
New Zealand are looming as the popular dark horses for the cricket World Cup.
Left-arm spinner Axar Patel picked up five wickets to help India grab a handy 49-run first-innings lead on Day 3 of the first Test against New Zealand on Saturday.
Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra scoring centuries in the same game is the first instance of two Kiwi batters scoring a century each in a World Cup match. It was also the first time two Kiwi batters scored a century each on World Cup debut.
New Zealand coach Gary Stead is confident his team had put losses to Pakistan, Australia and England behind them as they head to the knockout stage.
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