ESPNcricinfo presents the plays of the day from the Group A game between Australia and New Zealand in Nagpur
Brydon Coverdale and Nagraj Gollapudi at the VCA Stadium25-Feb-2011Poignant moment of the day
The teams lined up for their national anthems in the lead-up to the first ball wearing black armbands in recognition of the lives lost in the Christchurch earthquake, and when they came out after the change of innings they shared a minute’s silence. “I thought that was great for both the teams to get together and show both their respects for what has happened,” Ricky Ponting said. “The New Zealanders are neighbours of ours and almost like our brothers.”Stumping of the day
Glenn McGrath famously declared that he didn’t want to be credited with the wicket when Adam Gilchrist, up to the stumps to the fast man, whipped the bails off and stumped Craig McMillan at the Basin Reserve in 2005. Tim Southee is probably not quite as precious, and he would have been thrilled with the sharp work of Brendon McCullum to snare a leg-side wide and drag the ball back to the stumps to get rid of Ricky Ponting. It was a brilliant piece of wicketkeeping, the second in a few days after the Dutch gloveman Wesley Barresi stumped Jonathan Trott down the leg side off Ryan ten Doeschate. Hopefully Ponting reacted in the dressing rooms by placing his equipment gently in his kit bag and saying “oh, drat”.Over of the day
By the first drinks break, New Zealand had lost both openers but were beginning to steady the ship. That was until the first over after the break, when Mitchell Johnson produced an excellent delivery to have Jesse Ryder caught behind when the ball nipped away. Enter James Franklin, who Ricky Ponting was surprised to see batting so high in the order. Exit James Franklin. A horrible drive well away from his body, with no footwork, and Franklin was caught behind for a third-ball duck. It was a double-wicket maiden from Johnson, and New Zealand’s innings was in tatters.Try of the day
Returning in his second spell, Brett Lee fired in a short delivery at Jamie How, who did well to tap it down with soft hands before setting off for a single. But Lee, halfway into his follow through, dashed forward, came up with a sliding dive, before picking the ball, turning back and throwing at the stumps at the opposite end, all in one motion. How had made his crease to beat the perfect throw but Lee, always a dynamic presence on field, got a handsome cheer from the crowd.Mistake of the day
It was Daniel Vettori’s decision to delay the batting Powerplay, especially when both he and Nathan McCullum were trying to repair the extensive damage inflicted on them by the Australian fast bowlers earlier. Eventually Vettori opted for the Powerplay in the 43rd over but by then New Zealand had only two wickets in a hand, showing how insensible a move it was. In the final count New Zealand folded up with 29 balls to spare, 17 of them from the Powerplay.Drought of the day
As a one-day opener, a quick start is usually the aim, but Martin Guptill was in no hurry against the speed of Brett Lee and Shaun Tait. Guptill didn’t score from his first 18 balls, before he finally punched a drive through cover off Lee from his 19th. By the time he scored his first run, his opening partner Brendon McCullum was already back in the pavilion with 16 and Jesse Ryder was on 5. Unfortunately for the New Zealanders, Guptill didn’t use his steady start as a platform, and was bowled by a skidding Shane Watson delivery for 10 off 25.
