by The Professor » Sun Mar 12, 2017 10:40 am
On this day in 1992 New Zealand prove their ODI dominance with World Cup victory over India.
India won the toss and, fearing rain, chose to bat. They got off to a catastrophic start whereby Kris Srikkanth was out third ball and Ajay Jadeja had to retire on 13 with a hamstring injury. Captain Mohammad Azharuddin and Sachin Tendulkar put India back on track with a partnership of 127 that spanned over thirty overs.
When Azharuddin fell for 55 off the bowling of Dipak Patel, Tendulkar soldiered on with Kapil Dev with whom he put on 35. After Tendulkar's dismissal for 84, no Indian batsman managed to make a stand and the runs dried up in the death overs. Eventually India were 230-6 in their fifty overs. Chris Harris was New Zealand's best bowler with figures of 3-55.
Mark Greatbach gave New Zealand the explosive start that India lacked and scorched 73 in 77 deliveries. In his whirlwind of an innings, New Zealand shot to 118-2 and were comfortably ahead of the required run rate. Andrew Jones took over the mantle of batsman in chief after Greatbach perished. He went though four partners, the most successful being Martin Crowe, who made 26 in a partnership of 44, and Ken Rutherford, who made 21 in a partnership of 34. The other batsman in the New Zealand middle order disappointed but such was the explosive nature of the opening batsman it did not matter. Jones ended on 67 not out.
"It has been said of the unseen army of the dead, on their everlasting march, that when they are passing a rural cricket ground the Englishman falls out of the ranks for a moment to look over the gate and smile."