WTC FINAL: REPORT CARD FOR ALL NEW ZEALAND BOWLERS
5
Colin de Grandhomme (6/10)
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In a game when all New Zealand pacers were on song, Colin de Grandhomme didn’t get many opportunities to make an impact with his dilly dollies. Considering he got a chance to bat just once in the final, we have decided to judge the all-rounder based solely on his bowling skills.
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Colin de Grandhomme’s low rating isn’t a testament to the quality of his bowling. It is more a barometer of how well the other Kiwi pacers bowled. He only got to bowl in the first innings and kept things tight as he gave some much-needed rest to his teammates.
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4
Trent Boult (7/10)
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Trent Boult was dubbed as a trump card ahead of the final but arguably finished as the weakest speed gun out of the New Zealand quartet. The fact that he still managed to pick up five wickets under an economy rate of 2.5 shows how relentless the Kiwi fast bowlers were against India.
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While opening the bowling, Boult was overshadowed on both occasions by Tim Southee, who settled into his groove much quicker than the left-arm pacer. However, he also made an impact by picking up the wicket of Cheteshwar Pujara in the first innings and Rishabh Pant in the second.
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3
Neil Wagner (7.5/10)
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Think of Neil Wagner, and you quickly envisage the left-arm pacer searing in and unleashing a bouncer barrage. The 35-year-old certainly did that against India, keeping the batters on their toes. He gave a glimpse of his versatility throughout in the WTC final against India.
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Though Wagner bagged just three wickets in the match, they were at crucial junctures for the Kiwis. Wagner sent Shubman Gill packing with just his third ball on Day 2. He also got the timely wicket of Ajinkya Rahane later. In the second innings he sent Ravindra Jadeja packing.
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2
Tim Southee (8/10)
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Tim Southee made good use of the “three-quarter-ball” during the second innings, leaving Indian openers looking for answers. Tim Southee set Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill beautifully on Day 5, bowling a series of out-swingers for several overs before sharply nipping one back in.
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By sending the openers back, Tim Southee ensured New Zealand had all to play for on the final day of the game. The New Zealand quick finished with match figures of 5/112 and his timely breakthroughs in the second innings ensured India were bundled out for 170.
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1
Kyle Jamieson (9/10)
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Playing just his second Test in England, Kyle Jamieson showed great awareness and attitude. Guilty of being a tad short initially, Jamieson moved away from his natural lengths and reaped the rewards, ending with match figures of 7/61 and the Man of the Match award in the WTC final.
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One of the few bowlers who found both swing and seam consistently, Kyle Jamieson was a constant threat to the Indian batters throughout the game. His miserly economy rate of 1.32 was the best for any bowler in the game, and got the better of Virat Kohli on both occasions in the Test.
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