Black Caps v India: The ironic twist in New Zealand’s ODI series defeat

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For all the attention placed on coin tosses in the Black Caps’ two white-ball series against India, captain Mitchell Santner proved it might not be as straightforward as it…

For all the attention placed on coin tosses in the Black Caps’ two white-ball series against India, captain Mitchell Santner proved it might not be as straightforward as it appeared.

Throughout India’s tour of New Zealand, a 3-2 Twenty20 series victory followed by a 3-1 repeat in the One-Day Internationals, the coin toss has become a point of contention, if not downright hilarity, with the results of a supposed 50-50 call.

India’s two captains, Shreyas Iyer and Shubman Gill, called tails on nine occasions out of 10, for the coin to land in their favour eight times, as the winning skipper opted to bowl first in every game.

With conditions at this time of year in New Zealand known to favour teams that bat second, given the possibility of late-night dew making it difficult for a bowling side to defend totals, the coin toss has proven to be a valuable asset in India’s success – planned or otherwise.

And yet, as Santner found out at Mt Maunganui on Sunday, calling correctly is one thing, making the right decision afterwards is another.

Playing on a used wicket, the same one that the Black Caps made 333 on in their 244-run win two nights earlier, Santner opted to bowl first at Bay Oval, and looked to have made the right call when India were restricted to 209.

But in tricky conditions under lights, India’s seam attack bowled exceptionally well to restrict the Black Caps to 187 in reply, to claim a 22-run victory, and take the series with it.

Naturally, hindsight is undefeated. However, after the lessons of their victory two nights previous – where Matt Henry made use of the transition from day to night to take a career-best 6-27 – Santner would be forgiven for holding his hands up and saying he made the wrong call in the one toss he won.

Speaking post-match, though, Santner also outlined that the Black Caps should have been able to do enough to get the job done, and share the spoils at 2-2.

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