“Ati Sundar Finish!”-Twitter reacts as after a solid start, Washington Sundar’s late burst changes the whole scenario


“Ati Sundar Finish!”-Twitter reacts as after a solid start, Washington Sundar’s late burst changes the whole scenario

Washington Sundar, Sanju Samson, and Shreyas Iyer

The Men in Blue are locking horns with the Kiwis in the first ODI and posted a commanding target of 307 with the help of Shikhar Dhawan, Shubman Gill, and Shreyas Iyer‘s half-century knocks on Friday, November 25 at Eden Park in Auckland. Washingon Sundar played a cameo in the last overs with his 16-ball 36-run knock.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson won the toss and decided to field first. Dhawan and Gill walked onto the field to open the innings and slowly and freely stitched a 124-run partnership that was broken by Lockie Ferguson in the 24th over.

Ferguson delivered on the pads, which Gill flicked toward the square leg where Devon Conway pouched an easy catch. Gill had just completed his half-century off 65 balls and couldn’t play more.

In the next over, Tim Southee dismissed Dhawan with a full ball. Dhawan looked to push it past the point fielder, but Finn Allen, who was stationed there, put an end to Dhawan’s over by taking a sharp catch. Dhawan departed after a 77-ball 77-run score, which also included 13 fours; it was also his 38th half-century in ODIs.

ADVERTISEMENT

India then lost Rishabh Pant (15 off 23) and Suryakumar Yadav (four off three balls) on the second and fifth ball of the 33rd over, respectively. Ferguson was the bowler to scalp the two wickets.

After their wickets, Sanju Samson and Shreyas Iyer steadied the ship before the former was dismissed by Adam Milne in the 46th over. Samson swung his bat but mistimed his shot and ended up playing in the mif-wicket region. Three fielders were running to catch the ball, but Glenn Phillips, who was running from the deep, dived to his left and caught the ball.

Meanwhile, Iyer also completed his half-century off 56 balls; it was his fifth half-century knock in the last eight ODI innings. He then went on to score 80 runs from 76 balls with four boundaries and four maximums before Southee sent him back to the pavilion in the last over.

However, it was Washington Sundar’s powerful strokeplay in the last overs which pushed India’s score past 300. He smashed three fours and three sixes to score 37 runs off just 16 balls at a brilliant strike rate of 231.25 to drive India’s total to 306/7 in their allotted 50 overs.

ADVERTISEMENT

ALSO READ | Kane Williamson gives an excellent answer to ‘will you be picked in IPL auction’ on the eve of 1st ODI against India

Check how Twitter reacted to Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer, and Washington Sundar’s innings

Washington Sundar
Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer, and Washington Sundar

ALSO READ | “Oh, he is a match-fixer”- Wasim Akram says Indian fans call him one of the best bowlers but Pakistan fans still refer to him as match-fixer

ALSO READ | “And still no trophy”- Herschelle Gibbs trolls RCB for spending most money on IPL salaries