India v/s New Zealand, 1st ODI: With sweep shots, we put pressure on their spinners, says Ross Taylor

New Zealand’s most experienced batsman, Ross Taylor, and the highly talented left-handed opener-turned-middle-order batsman Tom Latham scripted one of the most calculated ODI run-chases in India in recent times.

When many expected that chasing 281 on a “very sticky wicket” at the Wankhede, as India’s Dinesh Karthik put it, was not going to be easy and that India would pull it off comfortably to make Virat Kohli’s 200th ODI a memorable occasion, Taylor and Latham had other plans. Their 200-run match-winning partnership for the fourth wicket was one of the coolest in recent times, battling against all odds.

The Taylor-Latham show was like a ‘guru-shishya’ combination that worked at best in very tiring circumstances. They not only had to counter the wrist spin attack of the Indians but also the humid conditions that they are not generally used to back home. Even when the asking rate was more than six an over, they did not panic.

The 33-year-old Taylor guided the left-handed Latham, 25, to his fourth ODI century while himself falling five short of his 18th three-figure mark. Taylor’s ageing body did not give any hint as to what he went through in his two-hour-46-minute knock. “Sorry guys, the young Tom Latham is too tired,” Taylor began the address.

Taylor said of Latham’s 103*: “Latham employed the sweep shot over here in the Test matches and did it to good effect. With the sweep shot, we were able to put pressure on the bowlers and adjust their lengths. I told him to reverse sweep and he did it, and he kept doing it. So, I hope he keeps that up because he said he had never done it in a game. He practiced it a lot. It was nice for him to get some success out of that shot today (Sunday).”

On whether there was over-reliance on Taylor and Latham, going by the top-order unable to really fire in the two practice games and the first ODI, Taylor said: “As long as you win, it doesn’t matter who steps up. Today (Sunday), it was Tom and I. You’ve got to give credit to the bowlers as well, it was pretty warm out there and Boulty (Trent Boult) bowled outstandingly well. We know India are going to come at us hard and now it’s one more victory to take the series for us. We know Pune is going to be a tough wicket to play on. We’ve to start again and not dwell on this too much.”

Taylor came up with his best ODI score on Indian shores. His 95 was only his third fifty in 16 ODIs here. His experience is what New Zealand count on. On what keeps him going, the right-hander from Wellington said: “I’ve had a conscious effort. I’ve come here many a time before, whether it’s international cricket or IPL. I’m not getting any younger and just wanted a bit of a push and a bit more intent.

"Through those middle stages in the past, you take up a few too many dot balls, so I’ve taken a conscious effort of being a bit busier in the crease, work on a few shots and open up the off side. Tom and I got some runs in the warm-up game and it was nice to bring that form into Wankhede today.”

Asked if he had chased anything more challenging than the 280, Taylor said: “I think it was more the humidity and the heat. Having to field out there for over three-and-a-half hours, we knew we had to get off to a good start and try and negate their spinners. Traditionally, NZ come here and struggle up front in our innings. I think you’ve got to give credit to (Martin) Guptill and (Colin) Munro. They set the platform for us and we were able to rotate the strike and take it deep and then we knew we were in a good position in the game.”