With Shardul Thakur taking the ball, the left-hander saw an opportunity to switch gears. He smashed 25 runs for pleasure in that over, using four boundaries and a six to reduce the asking equation to a comfortable 66 off 60. After that, it was easygoing for the Kiwis.
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The post-match scoreboard may show that New Zealand was in control during the run chase, but the stark reality is that India was still in the game and fancied their chances of victory until the 39th over. At that moment, New Zealand required 91 runs off 66 balls. Tom Latham, who had been solid and efficient up until that moment, took it upon himself from there. With Shardul Thakur taking the ball, the left-hander saw an opportunity to switch gears. He smashed 25 runs for pleasure in that over, using four boundaries and a six to reduce the asking equation to a comfortable 66 off 60. After that, it was easygoing for the Kiwis.
Playing the role of match-winner and dismantling Indian bowling is nothing new for Latham, who has a good record against the Men in Blue. The 30-year-old has 846 runs at an average of 65.07 in 18 ODIs against Team India, his best against any side with at least five innings. Latham’s 145* today at Eden Park in Auckland is also the greatest ODI score by a New Zealand player against India. He had stitched a similar partnership with Ross Taylor in 2017 and had helped his side win the game by 6 wickets after being 80-4 chasing 280 runs.
Read more: Twitter applauds Sundar as he blitzes India past 300 against New Zealand
Here is how Latham fares against Indian bowlers:
| Year | Runs | Balls | Outs | Dots | 4s | 6s | SR | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 23 | 17 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 135.3 | – |
| 2022 | 35 | 15 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 233.3 | – |
| Total | 58 | 32 | 0 | 12 | 9 | 2 | 181.2 |
| Year | Runs | Balls | Outs | Dots | 4s | 6s | SR | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 17 | 21 | 0 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 81.0 | – |
| Year | Runs | Balls | Outs | Dots | 4s | 6s | SR | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 43 | 43 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 100.0 | – |
| 2019 | 56 | 52 | 3 | 23 | 5 | 1 | 107.7 | 18.7 |
| 2020 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 71.4 | – |
| 2022 | 29 | 25 | 0 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 116.0 | – |
| Total | 133 | 127 | 3 | 48 | 11 | 2 | 104.7 | 44.3 |
It is quite clear from these figures that Latham absolutely loves the Indian bowling attack and he would once again prove to be a dangerous batter in the 2nd ODI.
