DHARAMSHALA: In a match that ebbed and flowed frequently, the Black Caps emerged victorious over their trans-Tasman rivals by a narrow eight-run margin. And it was clear during Australia's chase that the Kiwis had a plan to take the pace off their bowling and let the double-paced Dharamshala wicket do the trick.
"The wicket was doublepaced and we realised it pretty early.
Perhaps when (Shane) Watson was bowl ing their second or the third over, we were discussing in the dugout that it was not a yorker wicket. One had to bowl back of a length, cutters and change-ups. We assessed the wicket better than the Aussies," NZ pacer
Mitchell McClenaghan reflected later.
Man of the match McClenaghan also had a special word for up-and-coming left arm spinner Santner, who finished with figures of 2-30.
"The moment of the game for me would be
Mitchell Santner getting a rag of the length to
Steve Smith. The kid has got class," he said.