A video gaming experience - NZ vs WI | 1st T20I | 2020/21

Yes, the title of this blog is right. It is pure video gaming. Why ? Has the number of runs scored by both the teams are higher than usual ? Nope. Is the fielding were highly acrobatic ? Not much. They why have you named it as a video gaming experience. For audience, who haven't witnessed the game would feel that this might be absurd, but for audience who has witnessed the game, will feel this title right. For knowing answers, let us get into this blog.

Yesterday, there were match between New Zealand and West Indies, which was held at Eden Park located at Auckland. Eden Park is one such stadium, where the boundaries are built in hexagonal structure rather than usual circle structure. So, the straighter boundaries are smaller in size whereas the corners might be big. Still, the overall ground dimensions are so small, where many boundaries and sixes can be witnessed. Boult and Williamson less New Zealand has won the toss and chose to field first. Both teams have came up with 5 fast bowlers and only one spin bowler. 

At first three overs, West Indies were on a ruthless rampage. Hamish Bennet, who has done well against India, in the early 2020 along with debutant Jamieson were being smashed by the duo openers Andre Fletcher and Brandon King. They lacked the pace and also found it difficult to control the movement. This art of controlling ball movement comes only with experience, which isn't there. Many extras were conceded. WI were 55/0 at the end of 3 overs. Imagine what would have happened at the end, a healthy score above 200 ? But, the scenario turned upside down. The term I myself mentioned here is the art of controlling ball movement. This was mastered by Lockie Ferguson. Generally, Lockie Ferguson has an extreme amount of pace. He usually threatens the batsmen with his 145 - 150 km/h deliveries. In this game, along with sheer pace he also controlled the movement of the ball beautifully, which dismissed the most destructive Fletcher and new comer Hetmyer. As the Caribbeans were facing some with low pace, now the real pace done them perfectly. Lazy feat movement along with the mentality of slogging, too dangerous for a batsman !. After these two wickets, in the next over, Southee lowered his pace with some tactical adjustments. He placed a fielder at Third Man Position, bowled an incoming delivery at first, then a wide-ish outside delivery, which done the wicket of Brandon King.  Then after bowling two angling in, good length deliveries, in the same over, Southee banged it short to Rovman Powell, which done him. Yet again the art of controlling ball movement, but this time the lack of pace. Then, at the next over, Ferguson comes again with fiery pace dismisses Pooran with a full toss. In case, imagine this delivery being bowled at sub continent wickets. The bowler would have been smashed. But, in Eden park, the movement of the ball along with the windy climate, helped Ferguson to grab a wicket in this differing fashion. From 55/0 at 3 overs to 5/5 at 3 overs, before the power play could end, the match has witnessed some serious chaotic movements. Adding an insult to the injury, there some drizzle of rain twice inside power play. First drizzle was after finishing the 4th ball of the innings. Then, the next drizzle was at the end of 2 overs. Still, there weren't any changes as of now. An example of Ferguson's pace is during 8th over, Ferguson banged it short to Fabian Allen. Allen ducked down. The ball had hit his left shoulder, and reached the boundary in a flash. Deadly one !  

Captain Pollard along with Fabian Allen were right on the crease. They both had a huge task, by getting out of this hard zone and save their team. Pollard started off slowly and everyone thought that he will also get out. But, none knows about the calmness before the storm. Pollard slowly began to slog while Fabian Allen, struggling yet found some gaps under his bag. The score was 96/5 at the end of 10 overs, where again the rain fall had occurred. This time, the match was reduced to 16 overs, and in the 11th over, a spinner comes to ball after a full fledged pace bowling. Santner bowled well with a mix of pace and used a flat trajectory. Pollard was looking for a perfect over to target, which came in the form of Jimmy Neesham. 12th over was given to James Neesham, where he didn't find much movement, bowled to Pollard. In this over, 23 runs were scored with Mighty Pollard smacking 3 sixes and a four. Then, Jamieson came and at this second spell of him, he managed to bowl at right areas conceding only 2 runs. Then, again the Villain. Ferguson arrives to bowl his final over, where he had given 8 runs with picking 3 wickets. First ball has got a top edge which reached for a six, followed by a good driven boundary from Allen. Furious Ferguson, delivered a short ball, which dismissed Fabian Allen, with again the lack of hand eye coordination does the rest. But, Pollard finally managed to smack some runs, scoring 75 off just 37 balls. A silent battle where at one end, Pollard saving his team for problems whereas at the other end, the fifer holder, Ferguson created the so called problems for West Indies. The Caribbeans finished on 180/7 and as per Duckworth Lewis Method, also known as DLS, the revised target was 176 for New Zealand.

Kiwi Openers came into bat. Cottrell had a great inswinging movement at the start, which began to trap Kiwi batsmen. He dismissed Guptill in his first over. But, Pollard unlike Southee, introduced a pinner in the second over of the innings. His introduction of Allen, proved well in the first over. But, in the second over of Fabian Allen, he was smashed off by the CPL 2020 Find - Glenn Philips. He smashed 22 runs of the only over with 3 sixes and a sole boundary. On the other end, debutant Conway played well with some exceptionally well made shots. He had a good domestic season, which earned him his maiden national call up. In this International debut, he managed to score 41 ( 29 ). The match was evenly paced till the end of 9 overs, with New Zealand needing 81 runs off 42 balls with 6 wickets. From this point, the game turned around its head with Neesham who gave more runs in his sole over, balanced with his awesome hitting performance. He started targeting each and every West Indies bowler. Caribbeans on the other end, lacked the fiery pace, where bowlers like Kesrick Williams and Oshane Thomas, bowled full toss deliveries along with some half paced short balls. Along with Neesham, Santner added his final touch by few hits towards the leg side. Kiwis won the game by 5 wickets, with 3 balls to spare. 

Now, you might have understood, what was I mentioning about " A Video Gaming Experience ". Yes, those chaotic moments, not only on early stage of the game but also on the whole match. Will the visitors, West Indies fight back in the 2nd T20I, which is scheduled to be held at 29th of November, Mount Maunganui.  A heroic game, which ended on a different side. 

The link of AUS vs IND, 1st ODI, Post Match Analysis video is - AUS vs IND, 1st ODI, Post Match Analysis