New Delhi
The New Zealand team returned to their country after defeating India 3-0 in India. There New Zealand had to play a series of the same number of matches against England at home. The England team had lost to Pakistan 2-1. In such a situation, the series was expected to be interesting. However, the New Zealand team lost the first two matches and also lost the series. In such a situation, in the third match, New Zealand was on the back foot despite being on the front foot, because the team had a lead of more than 650 runs, but still they did not declare the innings. In such a situation, it can be said that the New Zealand team might have been afraid of England’s baseball and cricket.
Talking about this match, England team captain Ben Stokes won the toss and chose bowling. The captain’s decision did not prove correct, as New Zealand scored 347 runs in the first innings. England had a chance to match this score through a big innings, but the team was in danger of follow-on. The team collapsed for 143 runs. However, New Zealand did not give follow-on to England here also. New Zealand’s first fear came from here that they could go ahead in this match by playing baseball cricket. He might not have had much confidence in his circumstances.
After this, when the New Zealand team came out to bat in the second innings, it scored 453 runs. The team already had a lead of more than 200 runs and even when the lead reached 500, 550, 600 and 650 runs, the Kiwi team did not declare the innings. However, England restricted New Zealand to 453 runs in the second innings and thus England had a target of 658 runs. In response, England lost two wickets by the end of the third day’s play. The New Zealand team is 8 wickets away from winning the match, but the question remains that perhaps due to fear of baseball, New Zealand did not declare the innings.
