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Lucknow pitch curator fired for creating slow conditions in final moments ahead of IND vs NZ 2nd T20I – Reports

Due to the slowness of the pitch, the second T20I between India and New Zealand in Lucknow ended in a low-scoring affair.

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Mitchell Santner-Hardik Pandya (Source Twitter)

Due to the slowness of the pitch, the second T20I between India and New Zealand in Lucknow ended in a low-scoring affair. Only 200 runs were scored in just under 40 overs bowled in the entire match. The pitch curator was reportedly fired after the wicket provided excessive turn for both sides’ spinners, making scoring nearly impossible.

According to the Indian Express, the Indian team management asked the Lucknow curator to change the pitch at the last minute.  “According to the sources, the curator had prepared two black soil pitches for the game in advance. However, at the behest of a last-minute request from team management three days prior to the match, the curator had been asked to prepare a fresh pitch made of red soil instead. The new pitch could not be adequately prepared on short notice, and led to even slower conditions,” said the report.

According to the report, Sanjeev Agarwal of Gwalior has been appointed as the curator for Lucknow with the Indian T20 League 2023 in mind. The Lucknow franchise will play its home matches at the venue, which the Indian Cricket Board cannot afford.

It was a shocker of a wicket: Hardik Pandya

After batting first, New Zealand could only manage 99 for 8 in 20 overs as the Indian spinners dominated. Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Deepak Hooda, and Yuzvendra Chahal bowled 13 overs to help India keep New Zealand at bay.

India’s batters weren’t in much better shape. As they chased the target, they were in all sorts of trouble. On the penultimate ball of the game, India was able to level the series thanks to a Suryakumar Yadav boundary. India faced a lot of spin from New Zealand. Mitchell Santner, the captain, leg-spinner Ish Sodhi, all-rounder Michael Bracewell, and part-timers Mark Chapman and Glenn Phillipps together bowled 17 overs.

Spinners bowled 30 overs out of 39.5 overs, missing the world record by just three overs. Hardik Pandya, India’s captain, described the pitch as a “shocker” after India’s six-wicket victory.

“To be honest, it was a shocker of a wicket. Both the games we have played on so far. I don’t mind difficult wickets. I am all up for that, but these two wickets are not made for T20. Somewhere down the line the curators or the grounds that we are going to play in should make sure they prepare the pitches earlier,” Pandya said.

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