Sunday, 9 February 2014

Mini-session Analysis 1st Test NZvInd, Eden Park 2013/14

Here is the final mini-session analysis for the first test between New Zealand and India at Eden Park, Auckland

A mini-session is (normally) half a session, either between the start of the session and the drinks break or the drinks break and the end of the session. Occasionally a long session will have 3 mini-sessions where it will be broken up with 2 drinks breaks.

Mini-SessionScoreWinner
1-1aNew Zealand 23/2 off 12.1India
1-1bNew Zealand 31/1 off 11.5India
1-2aNew Zealand 64/0 off 13New Zealand
1-2bNew Zealand 61/0 off 14New Zealand
1-3aNew Zealand 62/0 off 13New Zealand
1-3bNew Zealand 41/1 off 13draw
1-3cNew Zealand 47/0 off 13New Zealand
2-1aNew Zealand 69/1 off 13New Zealand
2-1bNew Zealand 75/2 off 11New Zealand
2-2aNew Zealand 30/3 off 7.4New Zealand
2-2bIndia 45/3 off 18New Zealand
2-3aIndia 51/1 off 11India
2-3bIndia 34/0 off 10India
3-1aIndia 47/3 off 17New Zealand
3-1bIndia 25/3 off 4India
New Zealand 15/4 off 7.4
3-2aNew Zealand 23/1 off 13.2India
3-2bNew Zealand 40/2 off 14India
3-3aNew Zealand 27/3 off 6.2India
India 41/1 off 10
3-3bIndia 46/0 off 15India
4-1aIndia 34/1 off 14draw
4-1bIndia 59/0 off 15India
4-2aIndia 50/1 off 14New Zealand
4-2bIndia 40/2 off 13New Zealand
4-3aIndia 76/2 off 12India
4-3bIndia 20/3 off 3.3New Zealand

Final update, click here

New Zealand win the match by 40 runs and the mini-session count 13 - 12


First drinks, Day 1: India lead the mini-session count 1-0

A great start for India. They won the toss and after initially being frustrated by the openers managed to remove both of them in quick succession. - Mykuhl


Lunch, Day 1: India lead the mini-session count 2-0

This hour was close to being a draw. New Zealand certainly lost a big wicket with Taylor, but Williamson and McCullum batted well in the last 7 overs to make a respectable score a possibility. This pitch seems to be quite tricky, a score of 250 here could be enough. - Mykuhl


Middle drinks, Day 1: India lead the mini-session count 2-1

Both batsmen survived some sticky moments in that hour. McCullum edged one just infront of the slips, then Williamson was dropped a couple of overs later. Shami has probably been the pick of the bowlers, despite getting no reward. - Mykuhl


Tea, Day 1: The mini-session count is tied up, 2-2

India seemed to run out of patience here. After such a disciplined bowling performance in the morning they look like they are starting to try experimenting by mixing up their lengths. I'd suggest that sticking to bowling good deliveries would be a better tactic. - Mykuhl


Final drinks, Day 1: New Zealand lead the mini-session count 3-2

Both batsmen brought up their tonnes. As a New Zealander, I haven't been able to say that very often. There was one hairy moment where McCullum top edged a ball over Dhawan's head.

I've read a number of people who were watching it on TV say that Dhawan should have taken it. From where I was watching at the ground it looked like he was never going to get there, even if he had done everything perfectly. Perhaps if he was as tall as Fulton and as fast as Jadeja he might have had a chance, but he is neither of those, so I don't think it's fair to accuse him of missing a chance. - Mykuhl


Stumps, Day 1: New Zealand lead the mini-session count 3.5-2.5

A breakthrough for India. Williamson was lucky to be dropped just after lunch, but then that luck was reversed when he nicked a leg glance to Dhoni off Zaheer Khan. India would have been hoping that one brings two, and they did manage to find the edge of Anderson's bat twice, but one saved him from lbw, and the other flew between second slip and gully for four. - Mykuhl


Stumps, Day 1: New Zealand lead the mini-session count 4.5-2.5

The day ends well for New Zealand. Anderson and McCullum took the team to the close and at a good clip too. A score of 560 looks like a real possibility from here. - Mykuhl


First drinks, Day 2: New Zealand lead the mini-session count 5.5-2.5

Anderson was a victim of a combination of poor umpiring, no DRS and not hitting the ball, but not before he and McCullum had added 54 in 9 overs. McCullum continued to bat fluently, getting through to 175 at drinks. Is there another double century beckoning? - Mykuhl


Lunch, Day 2: New Zealand lead the mini-session count 6.5-2.5

McCullum was actually very cautious, only scoring 17 runs in almost an hour. Then with one over to go he smashed a 6 and a 4 to bring up his second double century against India. This is the first time two NZ batsmen have scored doubles in a NZ season. - Mykuhl


Change of Innings, Day 2: New Zealand lead the mini-session count 7.5-2.5

The Indian bowlers cleaned up the tail quite efficiently, despite another typicial series of briefly effective agricultural swipes from Tim Southee. The innings ended with a stunning catch by Ravindra Jadeja to give Ishant Sharma his 6th wicket. - Mykuhl
Highlight:



Tea, Day 2: New Zealand lead the mini-session count 8.5-2.5

Are we going to see a replay of the first innings? Three (very) quick wickets followed by a good partnership. It's probably too early to make that call, but Vijay and Sharma are both looking good. - Mykuhl


Final drinks, Day 2: New Zealand lead the mini-session count 8.5-3.5

Batting has started looking much easier on this pitch. The only wicket to fall in that hour was to a stunning delivery. Murali Vijay was batting well enough that it was going to take something like that to remove him. - Mykuhl


Stumps, Day 2: New Zealand lead the mini-session count 8.5-4.5

Inexpliciably the umpires decided that it was too dark after 10 overs, despite having spin at both overs and the last ball being hit for four. That was turning into a good counter-attack from India. - Mykuhl


First drinks, Day 3: New Zealand lead the mini-session count 9.5-4.5

3 wickets fall and suddenly there is the prospect of the follow-on. I would expect McCullum to take it if they clean up the tail before lunch. This is turning into a horrible tour for India. - Mykuhl


Lunch, Day 3: New Zealand lead the mini-session count 9.5-5.5

Well that changed things quickly. India were shot out in 4 overs and then McCullum decided not to enforce the follow-on. It's easy to be an expert in hindsight, and I'm sure right now there are many experts saying that they would have enforced it. I can understand the decision not to, but I'm sure that McCullum wasn't counting on being 15/4 at tea. - Mykuhl


Middle drinks, Day 3: New Zealand lead the mini-session count 9.5-6.5

Only one wicket, but hardly any runs. India get themselves further back into the game. They will still need a massive score to win the test, but they are giving themselves a chance. BJ Watling is probably the best person that New Zealand can have at this point in the match, as he tends to do best in a crisis. - Mykuhl


Tea, Day 3: New Zealand lead the mini-session count 9.5-7.5

Two more wickets, and now New Zealand are staring down the prospect of being the first team to ever score over 500 in the first innings and under 100 in the second innings of a test. - Mykuhl


Final drinks, Day 3: New Zealand lead the mini-session count 9.5-8.5

New Zealand managed to avoid the prospect of being dismissed for under 100, but they still have set India a getable target. It will take a special effort from India, but they have some special players. A potentially key moment was when Brendon McCullum dropped Shikar Dhawan in the first over. He is playing quite loosely, and it wouldn't be a surprise if he departed soon. - Mykuhl


Stumps, Day 3: The mini-session count is tied up, 9.5-9.5

A good end to the first day for India. They need 320 with 2 days to play. I'd put their chances at about 20%. That's a lot better than their chances were earlier, but this game is still New Zealand's to lose. - Mykuhl


First drinks, Day 4: The mini-session count is tied up, 10-10

New Zealand only managed one wicket, but they did get one wicket closer to their victory. A fairly even hour really. - Mykuhl


Lunch, Day 4: India lead the mini-session count 11-10

Sitting here as a NZ fan, this is a hollow feeling. Dhawan and Kohli both looked shaky early, but now both look almost impenetrable. - Mykuhl


Middle drinks, Day 4: The mini-session count is tied up, 11-11

That was an hour where the bowlers really bent their backs and made life difficult for the Indians, despite having an old ball and a flat pitch. Kohli was out to a poor ball from Wagner, but that lifted all the bowlers, and Wagner, Southee and Boult all bowled stunning spells after that. Wagner in particular had both batsmen in trouble. - Mykuhl


Tea, Day 4: New Zealand lead the mini-session count 12-11

Neil Wagner continued to bend his back and trouble the batsmen. He bowled a 10 over spell and took 2/26. Then the (somewhat dubious) wicket by Boult in the final over before tea really put this game back into New Zealand's grasp. India need another 137 with 5 wickets in hand. This is heading for an epic finish. - Mykuhl


Final drinks, Day 4: The mini-session count is tied up, 12-12

A stunning counter attack from Dhoni and Jadeja opened the game back up. They hit 54 runs in 34 balls and worried looks were starting to get passed between members of the New Zealand team. Historically when a team gets to 346/7 they end up on 395 on average. This is heading for a very close finish. - Mykuhl


End of match, Day 4: New Zealand win the match by 40 runs and the mini-session count 13-12

What an epic match. New Zealand finish it off, but it really could have gone either way. Congratulations to India on the fight back. They were dead an hour into day 3, and they almost managed to snatch the match.

At the press conference after the game, McCullum credited Neil Wagner for the way the he bowled. From my seat that was due praise. Dhoni mentioned that situations like this are ones that you learn a lot from. He felt that the players would be better in the next match, and that there was some real self belief built up in the bowlers, about the results they could get by bowling good line and length. This match was a pleasure to watch, and a pleasure to bring to you. - Mykuhl

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