The 2nd ODI at Eden Park, Auckland was a must-win encounter for visitors, India, trailing the three-match series by 1-0. However, it was Kyle Jamieson who made a dream debut at the international level, clinching the man of the match award and helping New Zealand score the series.
Replacing Scott Kuggeleijn, Jamieson was drafted into the playing XI, and the debutant did not disappoint as he made important contributions with both bat and ball.
Coming to bat, the Kiwis were precariously placed at 197-8, with the loss of Tim Southee’s wicket in the 42nd over. Cruising by the 30th over at 157-2, the hosts lost the plot by losing six wickets without adding many.
Jamieson provided able support to Ross Taylor(73* off 74), with some telling blows at the death, to take his side to an above-par score of 273. The Auckland cricketer’s cameo of 25 consisted of a boundary and a couple of maximums.
The two added 76 priceless runs to post a challenging total in front of the Indians to square up the series. With the ball, Jamieson picked the priced wicket of Shaw, who was threatening to take the game away from the Black Caps.
However, the debutant delivered a peach of a delivery, in his very first over, to beat Shaw’s defense and dislodge his bails. The 6’8″ lanky fast bowler was economical throughout his first and second spell.
India’s chase derailed after the top-order capitulated under pressure. That said, Ravindra Jadeja and Navdeep Saini batted brilliantly to revive the Indian innings and bring some excitement into the run-chase.
Saini scored an impressive 45 and was looking to threaten the score posted by Kiwis with his knock. It was the man of the match again, Jamieson, who broke the partnership and also the hopes of a successful Indian chase.
In the end, Jamieson finished with impressive figures of 2/42 in his first outing in ODI cricket, along with his priceless batting effort.
Dream debut for Kyle Jamieson #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/R9pMxMFjsu
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) February 8, 2020
“On a high at the moment, need time to sink it in; the game ebbed and flowed all along. Pretty simple, take it to the 50 overs (about his batting stint with Ross Taylor), a total of around 230-240, we would have been happy, just wanted to stay there and stick with Ross, be there till the end,” Jamieson stated in the post-match ceremony.
“A surreal moment to get a wicket in the first over, it was more relief than anything else, happy that I didn’t go for too many. International cricket is high intensity with a big crowd watching along,” an elated Jamieson concluded.
