Live Scorecard

Eventful over that.

First Gambhir grassed Ryder at mid on. Then Ashwin had a big shout denied against Taylor, and Ryder then smacks him for a four to end the over on a high.

The required rate is now above 8 an over.

NZ 118-2 (19.1 ovs)

Harbhajan Singh came into the attack and a wicket fell off the very first delivery of the over.

New Zealand gifted a wicket to the hosts when McCullum was run out for 58, after he and Ryder attempted an impossible single. Ryder hit one straight to Suresh Raina at covers and started off, but McCullum failed to make his crease before Dhoni could whip off the bails.

Having taken the Bowling Powerplay in the previous over, India must be delighted to have got the wicket of dangerman McCullum.

Live Scorecard

Nehra leaves the field. Harbhajan Singh takes his place.

Dhoni has taken his bowling powerplay.

Dhoni has shown great acumen in taking both the Batting powerplay when India was batting, and now the Bowling powerplay which he delayed by 8 overs when the pacers were being carted to all parts of the park.

Live Scorecard

The last five overs have yielded a mere 20 runs.

Ashwin has gotten away four overs for just 13. And yuvi has conceded 12 off his three overs.

Live Scorecard

Ashwin goes round the wicket this over.

What Ashwin -- and now Yuvraj -- has done is straightaway apply the skids on the Kiwi openers.

And then he gets the wicket!! Pitches on length, kicks up and balloons after catching a clueless Guptill on the glove, for Dhoni to come around in front of the wicket and take an easy catch.

There it is then, the captain's gamble paying off.

94/1 after 15.

Live Scorecard

Dhoni is throwing everything at the Kiwis in search of that elusive first wicket.

It is Yuvraj Singh now, replacing Munaf.

Off the second ball, he hits McCullum in line, but is huge appeal is turned down.

McCullum then raises his 50.

Nonetheless, good start by Yuvi. But no wicket for India yet.

90/0 after 14.

Live Scorecard

Guptill and McCullum have been very cool here, eschewing risky shots but at the same time keeping the scoreboard ticking.

Ashwin has kept his end tight the last two overs.

Unless there is a wicket either for him (most likely) or at the other end, the bowling powerplay might have to be taken soon, giving the advantage back to the Kiwis.

Munaf continues and the field is spread.

How long is Dhoni going to delay taking the bowling powerplay? If these two stick around for a while, it might cause some worries for the Indian think tank.

A high-risk gamble this, from Dhoni...

Meanwhile, Guptill drives a rising delivery for four and Munaf responds with one that keeps very low.

81/0 after 12

Live Scorecard

Interesting...

Dhoni has now decided not to automatically have the bowling powerplay and brings on Ashwin with enough cover.

McCullum almost chops the first ball on to his stumps.

Tidy over, with just two singles.

Who will come on at the other end?

Live Scorecard

73/0 after 10 overs

Munaf replaces Sree. The results are the same though. McCullum creams him for four to get six off the over.

The mandatory powerplay has been an exhibition of why India needs Zaheer Khan more than anyone else.

Nehra and Sree have not had any effect on the batsmen despite spells peppered with a few good balls. Between these few good balls, they have been pretty rubbish.

Live Scorecard

Because the crowd is largely quiet, this initial period that New Zealand have negotiated pretty well has had an eerie air around it.

Guptill now dispatches Nehra to the midwicket fence with a double handed forehand slap.

He then cut the next ball -- short and wide -- for another four.

66/0 for 9 overs

Live Scorecard

After that tidy 7th over from Nehra, Sree also hits his stride, keeping it tight and straight, giving the batsmen no room to to free their hands.

But he pitches his fourth ball full and Guptill tees it off for a straight six.

A good three balls, followed up by one that is gift wrapped. :(

56/0 after 8

Live Scorecard

Good over from Nehra.

48/0 after 7.

This is also the only the second over in the innings without a McCullum four.

A reader had posted in the message board asking how Sree, whose name was not on the scorecard, is opening the bowling here.

Teams are allowed to use all their 15 players in these warm up matches, with 11 batting and 11 fielding at any given point in the match.

Live Scorecard

McCullum started like he was going for the KP Switch Hit, but then at the last minute attempted a Dilscoop, only to miss. You should have seen the expression on Sree's face!

Guptill played out the first over with a four off the last ball.

After than, McCullum has hit at least one boundary in every over of the innings!

The Kiwis now 43/0 after 6

Live Scorecard

Five overs into the innings this has been neither here nor there.

New Zealand are 36/0 with McCullum scoring a bulk of it with 30.

By the way, here is the IPL schedule for the season that will immediately follow the cricket world cup.

Live Scorecard

27/0 after 4 overs

Sree begins the fourth over with a lifter that has McCullum all at sea.

But lets him off the hook the very next ball as he bangs one in short. McCullum skips down the wicket and creams it over mid off for four.

The next one is also short and Mac swivels to pull it high. It evades the square leg fielder and runs for four.

Live Scorecard

McCullum has gotten a good look at the bowling, gauged the pitch and is off with two fours off Nehra.

This came in before the Raina-Dhoni blitz. So, Santanu did not have the benefit of hindsight.

Santanu Bhattacharjee: "Can't understand why Raina has been sent in? He doesn't have a place in the starting elevenÃÂÂÂÃÃÂÂÃÂÃ‚ƒÃƒÂ‚‚ƒÃƒÂƒÃ‚‚ƒÃ‚ƒÃ‚ƒÃ‚‚‚ƒÃƒÂƒÃ‚ƒÃ‚‚ÂÂÃÃÃÂÃ‚ƒÃƒÂ‚ƒÃ‚ƒÃ‚ƒÃ‚ƒÃ‚‚ƒÃ‚ƒÃ‚ƒÃ‚‚‚‚ÃÂÃÂÂÃÂÃÃÂÃ‚ƒÃƒÂ‚‚ƒÃ‚‚ƒÃƒÂ‚ƒÃ‚‚‚‚ÂÂÃÃÃÃÂÃ‚ƒÃƒÂ‚ƒÃ‚‚ƒÃ‚ƒÃ‚‚ƒÃ‚ƒÃ‚ƒÃ‚‚‚… Its Sachin, Sehwag, Gambhir, Virat, Yuvraj, Dhoni, Pathan. I will give Yuvi the chance ahead of Raina coz he's a better bowler, and if can re-discover his form, can be ruthless."

All said and done, today's batting display does throw up a few questions.

1) Does Yuvraj's demotion and subsequent no-show tell us something about what the captain is thinking? Does it mean Tuvraj is going to start the world cup on the bench?

2) Who among Kohli, Raina, Yuvraj would you drop? Tell us at: live_cric@rediffmail.com

Live Scorecard: India 360/5

A superb all round performance from India here.

New Zealand were off to a great start as Southee removed Sachin and Oram struck off the first ball, accounting for Sehwag.

India were 42/2 at the end of 10, and 74/2 after 15. Kohli and Gambhir consolidated by taking the score to 123/2 in 25 overs.

Kohli then perished trying to increase the run rate, bringing in Dhoni, who promoted himself above Raina and Yuvraj.

But the captain came good as he took the powerplay after the drinks break in the 35th over. The five batting powerplay overs brought in 49 runs for the loss of Gambhir.

But by then the momentum was with India as they plundered 136 runs off the last 10 overs. The highlights in the flurry of agricultural shots and powerful hoicks were seven consecutive boundaries for Dhoni, five of which came off Jacob Oram, who was the pick of the bowlers till then. Raina helped himself to a hatrick of sixes off -- again unfortunately -- Oram.

With the bowling side having the option of using seven bowlers, New Zealand will find this target tough to overcome, despite their big hitting batting order.

Join us for the chase in a while.

Live Scorecard

Yuduf gets strike in the third ball, but cannot do better than a single as Mills cramps him for room.

A bouncer above Dhoni's head brings up the 350 with a wide.

A scampered double brings up Dhoni's 100, a brilliant and timely innings by the captain.

He then celebrated it with a six over mid-wicket as India finished at 360.

Live Scorecard

Great over by Southee. Just five off it.

The first three balls go for a single each.

Yusuf swings at the rising fourth ball and misses it.

Connects off the fifth, which lands in no man's land between mid off and long off for a single.

Last over now, Dhoni on strike

Live Scorecard

Over number 48: 12 off it including Raina's wicket.

Dhoni begins the Mills over with a four.

Dhoni and Raina then trade singles off the next three balls.

Mills, who has been on target till then, pitches one short, as Raina swings it to the square leg boundary to bring up his fifty.

The ball then slips off the bowlers hands for a wild wide on the off side.

Off the final ball, Raina hits it to the moon and back, handing mid-off a sitter.

340/5 then.

Live Scorecard

Over number 47: 17 off it.

Begins as Dhoni smacks Southee over the midwicket fence with what can only described as a half-helicopter shot.

Southee raps him on the pads the next ball, but has his LBW appeal turned down. three leg byes.

Raina blocks the third ball for a single.

Dhoni then cross-bats a short ball for two.

Before Raina rounds it off with a Four.

Live Scorecard

Dhoni smacks Southee over the midwicket fence with what can only described as a half-helicopter shot.

Southee rapped him on the pads the next ball, but has his LBW appeal turned down.

Live Scorecard

311/4 in 46

Quite a decent over from Mills in the given situation. 13 off it.

Mills pitched one up and Raina stood his ground to just chop-guide it to the third man boundary for four, bringing up the 300.

A single later, Mills strayed on the other side, but right-handed Dhoni slashed a similar ball to the third man boundary

Live Scorecard

Jacob Oram continues and the batsmen also continue in the same vein.

It is now Raina's turn. As he goes 6,0,6,6 on the leg side.

Five overs ago, 300 seemed to be a good target got India to aim, but it is already 298!!!

Live Scorecard

238/4 in 41.3

Nathan McCullum into his 9th over. After this it will be Mills, Southee and Oram. Could be a big over for India.

Live Scorecard

Styris, who had gone for 19 in his three overs, is introduced into the attack and goes for 10 more. First, Dhoni dispatched a lollypop over the midwicket fence.

Jamie How then missed an easy stumping as Raina stepped out and was beaten.How costly is that going to be?

Eight runs off that McCullum over including a Dhoni boundary.

We are now into the last 10 overs, India well poised at 224/4.

From here on, New Zealand can be happy with themselves if they manage to keep India under 280, while the sloggers will try to take India past 300.

Live Scorecard

216/4 after 39 overs

Southee just brought things to a grinding halt in the peak of the batting. Three dot balls forced Gambhir to guide a rising delivery into the keeper's gloves. And then he tied up new man Raina for the remaining two balls.

But a great batting powerplay for India anyway. (49 runs, one wicket.)

Nathan McCullum is back into the attack.

Send in your feedback, comments and observations at: live_cric@rediffmail.com

Live Scorecard

216/4 after 38.4 overs

A great comeback over from Southee in progress here. Three dots followed by one that bounced more than usual and Gambhir who had made some room guides it into the keeper's gloves. A superb innings from the man. Raina comes in.

Here's a quick look at how the bowling sheet looks: Mills, Southee and Oram have 3,3 and 2 over left. That leaves about three overs to the others. Mostly it will be Styris who will do duty in those three, unless Taylor mistakes Nathan McCullum or Woodcock for Vettori. Or Ryder wants to have go.

Send in your feedback, comments and observations at: live_cric@rediffmail.com

Live Scorecard

216/3 after 38 overs

Just six runs off that Mills over.

The way Gambhir has changed gears has been outstanding. He was on 45 when Kohli, who had outscored him, departed. Then after Dhoni came in, he reached his 50 off 57 balls. And after the powerplay was taken he has effortlessly stepped on the gas to go to 87 off 81.

Excellent lesson in pacing an innings.

Send in your feedback, comments and observations at: live_cric@rediffmail.com

Live Scorecard

210 after 37 overs

Gambhir takes Southee to the cleaners. 15 runs off it. (Powerplay count: 43 off three overs)

First he slashed hard at one outside the off stump and gets it away to the thirdman boundary. He then followed it up by carving one on the offside over the infield for another four. He made it a hattrick of fours by stepping into the line of one that was angled towards the leg stump from around the wicket.

By promoting himself and seeing off about eight overs, Dhoni has ensured that even if a wicket falls, the batsmen to come are now: Yuvraj, Raina, Pathan.

Whichever order these three come in from here on, you can be assured of mayhem on the field.

Send in your feedback, comments and observations at: live_cric@rediffmail.com

Live Scorecard

195/3 after 36 overs

13 runs off that over. The first two batting powerplay overs have brought 28 already. Seems to be another Dhoni masterstroke, the timing of the powerplay.

Gambhir and Dhoni have added 47 in 7 overs.

Send in your feedback, comments and observations at: live_cric@rediffmail.com

Live Scorecard

182/3 after 35 overs

On to the final third of the innings now. Very interestingly, Dhoni has already taken the batting powerplay and quickly goes on to plunder 15 runs off Mills.

Here's where the batting powerplay will come into the picture and teams will hope for a final thrust.

The second third of this match has been fairly engrossing, with the first part belonging to India, as Gambhir and Kohli milked the spinners. Then Oram came back into the attack and scalped Kohli, bringing the Kiwis back into the match.

The last 15 overs should be exciting with New Zealand having plenty of overs from Mills and Southee, with Oram and Styris to fill in the reminder. We might well have seen the last of the spinners.

Send in your feedback, comments and observations at: live_cric@rediffmail.com

Live Scorecard

167/3 after 34 overs

Just four runs off that over.

Oram has been getting good bounce from good lengths on this pitch. By keeping it tight and straight, he has also been cramping the batsmen for room. This was his home ground in the IPL and he knows the wicket better than his teammates too.

Send in your feedback, comments and observations at: live_cric@rediffmail.com

Live Scorecard

163/3 after 33 overs

This innings will do a world of good to Dhoni if he spends a decent enough period in the middle.

Styris has been a bit expensive in his 3 overs, going for 19. But Oram has been outstanding in his five overs with 13/2.

Send in your feedback, comments and observations at: live_cric@rediffmail.com

Live Scorecard

159/3 after 31 overs

A good over for India. 10 off it.

A well-made 50 (57) from Gambhir. After having ably supported Kohli, it is now his turn to change gears, with Dhoni supporting him.

Send in your feedback, comments and observations at: live_cric@rediffmail.com

Live Scorecard

149/3 after 30 overs

That dismissal reminded one of how Mark Waugh and Ian Healey combined to dismiss a rampaging Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai in the 1996 world cup.

Oram came back into the attack -- Taylor gave him only three overs in the first spell, -- and started off with a wide down the leg side.

The next ball was a wide on the offside, and Kohli, who had been flawless till them, went chasing after it, only to nick it to the 'keeper for a sharp catch.

So the bowling changes work for New Zealand. Now Gambhir has to start all over again with captain M S Dhoni for company.

Yuvraj and Raina were padded up in the dressing room, but the captain has promoted himself here.

Send in your feedback, comments and observations at: live_cric@rediffmail.com

Oh God!!!

Oram, just back into the attack, bowls one way wide of the off stump and Kohli in a momentary lapse -- actually his first mistake of a chanceless innings -- chases it, nicking it to the 'keeper

Kohli gets a neat 50 for himself. It had 6 fours, but he has been mostly busy running his singles and that of Gambhir's hard.

Live Scorecard

97/2 after 20 overs

This has been a five-over period where both teams came out with honours shared. But the way these two have been handling the spinners, Taylor may want to bring on one of his three speedsters for a while to see if they can get a breakthrough.

Send in your feedback, comments and observations at: live_cric@rediffmail.com

Live Scorecard

91/2 after 19 overs

Just four runs off that very hurried Nathan McCullum over. Beyond the last four off the dropped catch, it has been a while since the last boundary, though this has been a busy 50 partnership between Gambhir and Kohli.

Send in your feedback, comments and observations at: live_cric@rediffmail.com

Live Scorecard

87/2 after 18 overs

Gambhir came down the wicket to left arm spinner Woodcock, and long off grasses a catch.

The two batsmen at the crease are showing intent, running the first run hard and always on the lookout for the second.

At this rate, the pressure will soon be on New Zealand. The next move will be how stand-in skipper Ross Taylor shuffles his slow bowlers.

Send in your feedback, comments and observations at: live_cric@rediffmail.com

Live Scorecard

81/2 after 18 overs

New Zealand have pressed their spinners into action, and Gambhir-Kohli are on their feet, scampering quick singles and the odd two.

Kohli has gone to 27, while Gambhir for now is content with rotating the strike, on 13.

Send in your feedback, comments and observations at: live_cric@rediffmail.com

Live Scorecard

74/2 after 15 overs

That is the end of the powerplay overs. New Zealand will be happy with themselves the way things have turned out.

The mandatory powerplay overs definitely belonged to them, as they pegged India to 42/2.

Gambhir and mostly Kohli then saw off the bowling powerplay without any incidents and also slightly upping the run rate.

Off now to the so-called boring middle overs. But the ways things are poised, we should be in for an interesting period of play.

Send in your feedback, comments and observations at: live_cric@rediffmail.com

Live Scorecard

69/2 after 14 overs

Kohli's been busy here, in his run-a-ball 20 so far, with 2 fours.

Send in your feedback, comments and observations at: live_cric@rediffmail.com

Live Scorecard

63/2 after 13 overs

Kohli has hit his stride straightaway, the sign of a batsman in form. He gets his second four with a delightful flick off James Franklin through square leg and a few deliveries he drove a full delivery though the covers for another four.

Send in your feedback, comments and observations at: live_cric@rediffmail.com

Live Scorecard

50/2 after 11.1 overs

James Franklin comes on at the other end, joining Oram.

The two now have to carry forward the good work by Mills-Southee while Gambhir-Kohli will be looking to undo the damage done by the early exits of Sehwag and Sachin.

Send in your feedback, comments and observations at: live_cric@rediffmail.com

Live Scorecard

42/2 after 10 overs

A great powerplay for New Zealand as they send back both the openers for next to nothing.

Kyle Mills and Tim Southee kept it straight and simple, never allowing the Indian openers anything loose.

Southee got his rewards when he bowled Tendulkar off a fuller delivery. Then Jacob Oram who came on in the 10th over, brought one in to bowl Sehwag.

Now the momentum in the bowling powerplay will be with New Zealand.

Gambhir and the in-form Virat Kohli have to rebuild the innings now.

Send in your feedback, comments and observations at: live_cric@rediffmail.com

Jacob Oram, coming first change, gets one to come back in, beats Sehwag's bat and sends the offstump cartwheeling.

That was off his first ball of the match! Sehwag goes for 23.

Live Scorecard

37/1 after 8 overs

Sachin: b Southee 17

Gambhir comes in at number 3, and joins his Delhi opening partner.

Southee was rewarded for his hard work as he pitched one up, slightly slower, and slightly fuller, as Sachin played it a bit early, getting bowled.

Earlier, Sachin had hit another four off his pads for Sachin after Mills strays towards leg. That was the sixth four of the innings, and the openers punished whatever was not in the right areas.

Send in your feedback, comments and observations at: live_cric@rediffmail.com

Southee bowls Sachin!!!

Live Scorecard

31/0 after 7 overs

There he goes! Sehwag stands, takes a good look at that straight ball short of length, and whacks it, aiming for the umpire's head. Four.

Send in your feedback, comments and observations at: live_cric@rediffmail.com

Live Scorecard

26 after 6 overs

Sachin gets on the front foot for one on the offstump and drives majestically for a four.

Mills and Southee have hit their stride from the word go, and tied down Sehwag and Sachin for the first six overs.

This is usually when Sehwag cuts loose. How is he going to respond now?

Send in your feedback, comments and observations at: live_cric@rediffmail.com

Live Scorecard

21/0 after 5 overs

A rare maiden over for Kyle Mills. The last ball kept very low, but was outside the offstump. Tendulkar was in half a mind to go for it, but missed.

Send your feedback, comments and observations at: live_cric@rediffmail.com

Live Scorecard

21 after 4 overs

Southee strays marginally outside offstump a little short of length and Sehwag slashes it through the vacant slip area for a four to end the over.

Both Kyle Mills and Southee have till now kept a tight line till now, bowling wicket-to-wicket.

Whenever they have strayed, both Sachin and Sehwag have capitalised.

Send in your feedback, comments and observations at: live_cric@rediffmail.com

Live Scorecard

15/0 after 3 overs

The bowlers have so far kept it tight to Sachin, bowling into his body, and Sachin has responded with 4 singles, before whipping a ball on his pads for his first four.

Send in your feedback, comments and observations at: live_cric@rediffmail.com

Live Scorecard

7/0 after 2 overs

Southee bangs one short and outside off stump. Sehwag slashes and misses.

The following ball, Southee strays down the leg side, and Sehwag whips it off his pads for the first four of the match.

A sharp bouncer into the body to round off the over.

Send in your observations, comments at live_cric@rediffmail.com

Live Scorecard

2/0 after 1 over

A sedate start, Sehwag tapping the only ball he faced in the over back down the pitch to the bowler.

Tim Southee, of the Emirates flight fame, comes on at the other end.

Send in your comments and observations at live_cric@rediffmail.com

Live Scorecard

New Zealand stand-in skipper Ross Taylor said regular captain Daniel Vettori is still not 100 percent with a hamstring injury and they didn't want to risk him in a warm-up match.

Meanwhile, Chennai erupts as Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag walk out to the middle to open the batting.

This is an unofficial ODI, and both teams are using 14 players from the squad. Vettori and Zaheer are the omissions.


Teams:

India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, Yusuf Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Ashish Nehra, S Sreesanth, Munaf Patel, R Ashwin, Piyush Chawla.

New Zealand: Ross Taylor (captain), Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum, Jesse Ryder, James Franklin, Scott Styris, Jacob Oram, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Hamish Bennett, Luke Woodcock, Tim Southee, Jamie How, Kane Williamson.

Live Scorecard

Both India and New Zealand are coming after wins in their first warm-up matches.
But remember this is a New Zealand side that recently lost 0-4 to Bangladesh. and 0-5 by India.
For India, this is the last opportunity to test their batting before the opener in Dakha on February 19.

Welcome to Rediff.com's coverage of the 2010 World Cup warm-up match between India and New Zealand at the MA Chidambaram stadium in Chennai, on Wednesday.

As expected, India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni had no hesitation in electing to bat on winning the toss.

The good news for Indian fans is that master batsman Sachin Tendulkar will play in the match after missing the previous one because of a minor niggle, but Zaheer Khan continues to be on the sidelines.

New Zealand have rested captain Daniel Vettori, which means Ross Taylor will lead the side.

"The pitch is very dry. It will break up as the match goes on and the spinners will have fun," former Kiwi pacer Simon Doull says in his pitch report ahead of the match.