Kritik und Lob » e six regular-season games played between the

Mumbai 29 for 1 trail New Zealanders 324 for 7 dec (Latham 55, Williamson 50) by 295 runs ScorecardSuccessful overseas batsmen in India have often been successful by lofting the ball over the infield. Even in the days of in-and-out fields, when Alastair Cook scored 562 runs including three hundreds in 2012-13, the most runs by a visiting batsman in a four-Test series in India, he relied on the lofted shots both for runs and also to get rid of the close-in fielders. On their first day of play on the Indian tour, New Zealand batsmen used the loft liberally to suggest it will be the shot they will go to often in the Tests.Albeit on a non-threatening track against a non-threatening attack, New Zealanders made their intent clear as everybody apart from Martin Guptill got a hit in in their score of 324 for 7 declared. There was no hanging about either as they gave Mumbai 13 overs to play before stumps, and took a wicket during that period. The declaration gave them a good chance of having a proper second innings.Two of the wickets were retirements to allow others a chance to bat. Incidentally, the two who gave up their batting, Tom Latham and BJ Watling, were the ones who batted at a more sedate pace. Apart from the two, and Henry Nicholls, everybody struck at more than 70. Apart from Guptill, who scored 15, everybody crossed 20, including fifties from Kane Williamson and Latham. Targets in particular were the spinners, whose 49 overs were taken for 230 runs. Two of these spinners were part-timers, and two others yet to make their first-class debuts.Another heartening news for New Zealand will be that their lower order and lower-middle order - crucial on raging turners - was among the runs. Watling looked comfortable in his 21, Mitchell Santner and Mark Craig ran away to 45 and 33 not out, and Ish Sodhi scored a slightly streakier 29.Every batsman that faced spin played the lofted shot early in the innings. That leaves out Guptill, who got out even before spin came on, but he had started the day with a hooked six in the first over of the match. A Mumbai attack missing its spearhead Shardul Thakur and with left-arm spinner Vishal Dabholkar - average of 31 - as its best spinner was then punished. Williamson stepped out repeatedly to loft Dabholkar over mid-on. He went back to taking singles once the fielder was pushed to long-on, but went aerial again as soon as Dabholkar called the fielder back up. Latham once swept Dabholkar for four from way outside the off stump. The intent - on a friendly surface against friendly bowlers - was clear.Balwinder Sandhu, with healthy swing but at a gentle pace, was the only shining light for Mumbai. He got the wickets of Guptill and Williamson in the first session with outswingers. As the day wore on, though, Mumbai made more and more use of spinners. Ross Taylor made use of the cut shot before lofting legspinner Parikshit Valsangkar into the sightscreen. Facing his first over of spin, Nicholls came down the wicket to loft left-arm spinner Vijay Gohil for two fours. Santner did the same to Gohil as soon as he came out to bat. Craig reserved the same treatment for Dabholkar.New Zealand had just one three-day warm-up game to get used to the conditions before going into the first Test in Kanpur. As has become the norm world over, the hosts did them no favours by giving them a pitch that looks nothing like the raging turners that teams expect in India nowadays. Also they had a second-string Mumbai side to face with their best players playing for India A in Australia. New Zealanders success with their ploy of using their feet and the lofted shots needs to be seen in that light, but one thing was clear: they showed enough signs they are not here to play passive cricket, which South Africa, at times, might have been accused of in Indias last home season. Dellin Betances Yankees Jersey . 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CLEVELAND -- The Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indians have come full circle.On April 5, they played at Progressive Field on Opening Day and six months later, with both teams having won their respective divisions, they will meet in Game 1 in the American League Division Series.The Indians, with a record of 94-67, won the Central Division by eight games over second-place Detroit. The Red Sox, with a record of 93-69, won the East by four games over second-place Baltimore and Toronto.Thursday night in Cleveland both teams are 0-0, but there is no shortage of subplots. The biggest one is that Indians manager Terry Francona is the former Boston manager and won two World Series with the Red Sox.Boston manager John Farrell was the pitching coach for Francona in Boston but is also a former Indians pitcher and farm director. Neither manager, however, wants to make this series about them.Asked his feelings on facing his former team in the postseason, Francona said, I would be excited to play anyone, anywhere. This is the playoffs. The way weve played this year, were a worthy opponent.Francona, however, says the focus should not be on the managers.Both teams accomplished so much to get here, it should be about the players, not about my private feelings, which will remain that, he said.Farrell agrees.Any time your team advances to this point in the season its a special event, Farrell said. But how we advance or how we play in this series is going to be dependent upon our players. Its always about the players who take the field and how they go out and execute.Rick Porcello (22-4, 3.15), who will start Game 1 for the Red Sox, has plenty of experience facing the Indians. Porcello spent the first six years of his career pitching for the Tigers, who play the division-rival Indians numerous times each season.In 22 career starts vs. the Indians Porcello is 10-4 with a 33.dddddddddddd35 ERA. In one start against the Indians this year he was 1-0 with a 3.18 ERA.Cleveland is a good ballclub, Porcello said. Theyre very well balanced. They have some guys that can run, definitely have some power threats, and some really good left-handed hitting, especially at the top of the order.Cleveland frequently starts a lineup in which the first eight hitters are either left-handed hitters or switch-hitters.Youve got to be on your game. Youve got to execute your pitches, said Porcello.I think the bottom line is how our right-handed pitchers attack a lineup that can feature a number of left-handed hitters in it, Farrell said.Francona is very impressed by Porcellos season.His command is off the charts, Francona said. Hes throwing not only strikes, but hes using all four quadrants of the plate, and hes not walking anybody.Boston won four of the six regular-season games played between the two teams, but the Indians winning the home field advantage for the Division Series was huge. Cleveland was 53-28 at home this year, tying Texas for the best home record in the American League.They play exceptionally well at home, Farrell said.That home success does not extend to Clevelands Game 1 starter, Trevor Bauer (12-8, 4.26).Bauer was 4-6 at Progressive Field, and his ERA is over a run higher at home (4.73) than on the road (3.67). In two appearances, one start, versus Boston this year, Bauer was 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA. In three career games, two starts, against the Red Sox he is 0-2 with a 12.91 ERA.They have a really good team overall, Bauer said. Obviously, they scored the most runs, have the best offense and have set all sorts of offensive records this year. Going against that lineup, its going to be a lot of fun. ' ' '