New Zealand and India will meet in the third ODI at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Wednesday, November 30th. The match is scheduled to begin at 2.30 pm local time.
The match concludes India’s mini-tour of New Zealand, but there will be no time for the majority of players to rest as they are scheduled to travel to Bangladesh in less than a week’s time.
Second ODI victim of the rain
The 2nd ODI in Hamilton on Sunday, ultimately fell victim to the rain that had threatened to spoil it before a ball had been bowled.
It caused the delay of the toss by 15 minutes, and, after the New Zealand captain Kane Williamson had invited India to bat first, within three overs of the start of the innings it had begun to drizzle, before steadily getting worse.
The umpires called the players off the field with India at 22/0, and it would be nearly four hours before they returned, with the match reduced to 29 overs a side.
In the event, though, just 40 minutes more play was possible before the rain returned for good, with one ball of the 13th over left to be bowled. The game was called off shortly afterwards.
Indian pair impresses
During the play that was possible, Shikhar Dhawan made just three before he was caught off the bowling of Matt Henry, but the pair of Shubman Gill and Suryakumar Yadav both impressed. Gill made 45 unbeaten off 42 balls, including a six and 4 fours, whilst Yadav brought some of his T20I form with him, making 34 not out of just 25 balls.
When the rain intervened, they were hinting at putting together a potentially match-winning partnership.
What that means
With New Zealand having won the 1st ODI in Auckland by 7 wickets, India need to win in Christchurch to level the series and end their mini-tour on a winning note. India won the T20I series earlier.
The weather forecast
The bad weather that has dogged India since they have landed in New Zealand has not gone away. Rain is forecast again for the Christchurch area on Wednesday, so fingers will be crossed that a full day’s play is possible. With the match already a sell-out, it would be a shame for the paying public if rain were to spoil the occasion.
The pitch
Like many pitches in New Zealand, the Hagley Oval is geared for batting. It offers even bounce which means that batters can go for their shots with confidence. In addition, a fast outfield and relatively short boundaries should ensure plenty of runs.
Fast bowlers can get some assistance from the pitch in the early overs, and with it being an open ground, the breeze may help produce some swing.
The par score on this ground is 262, and the captain that wins the toss may well opt to bowl first.
Predicted teams
India made the tough call to drop Sanju Samson for Deepak Hooda in the Hamilton match. Samson had done nothing particularly wrong in the first ODI and may have felt that he was deserving of another chance. However, with India looking for a sixth bowling option, he was sacrificed.
The same XI as were named for the match in Hamilton are expected to play in Christchurch, and New Zealand are also expected to be unchanged.
Prediction
Provided that the match goes ahead in full, India know that they have their work cut out if they are to win this encounter and finish their mini tour on a high. Prior to Sunday’s abandonment, New Zealand had won 13 consecutive home ODIs and, in home conditions, they can be formidable in this form of cricket.
On the limited evidence available India’s problems are not with their batting, but with their bowling. Do they have an attack capable of taking 10 wickets between them, or applying the brakes when an opposition pair is in full flow at the crease?
That weakness makes the home side favourites for this match, but it would be quite a coup if India could defy the odds and level the series. And individuals will be hoping to stake their claims for a World Cup place next year.
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