The 32-year-old fast bowler finished with three for 34 off eight disciplined overs as India were shot out for their lowest-ever total of 88 against New Zealand while chasing a challenging 289-run target in the day-night match.
It was New Zealand’s biggest one-day victory over India by run-margin, the previous being by 108 runs at Dunedin in 1990.
New Zealand were indebted to captain Ross Taylor (95) and all-rounder Scott Styris (89), who put on a record 190 for the fourth wicket to help their team set a stiff target.
India virtually lost the match in the opening 12 overs when they were reduced to 50 for four, with Tuffey taking three wickets and Kyle Mills one.
Tuffey also had a hand in the run-out of Indian captain MS Dhoni, who could make only two to leave his team tottering at 53 for five in the 14th over.
Ravindra Jadeja (20), Virender Sehwag (19) and Dinesh Karthik (14) were the only batsmen to reach double-figures in India’s dismal batting performance against New Zealand’s pace.
Fast bowlers Mills and Jacob Oram bagged two wickets each.
Earlier, New Zealand themselves were struggling at 28 for three after winning the toss before Taylor and Styris came to their rescue with a record partnership.
Their partnership was New Zealand’s best for the fourth wicket in One-Day Internationals, the previous highest being 168 between Lee Germon and Chris Harris against Australia in the 1996 World Cup quarter-final in Chennai.
Taylor looked set to complete his fourth one-day hundred when he was trapped leg-before by left-arm seamer Ashish Nehra, who was the most successful bowler with four for 47.
The New Zealand captain hit one six and eight fours in his 113-ball knock.
India paceman Praveen Kumar did the early damage when he had opener Martin Guptill caught behind for 11 and then bowled debutant Kane Williamson for no score in his lively opening spell.
Nehra was the other wicket-taker in the initial overs, having opener Peter Ingram caught behind for 12.
India then had to wait for more than 31 overs to get another wicket as Taylor and Styris applied themselves remarkably well to boost the innings.
Styris was bowled by left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha immediately after hoisting the bowler for a straight six. He also completed 4,000 one-day runs during his 95-ball knock.
Dhoni admitted his side was outplayed by a better team. “Taylor and Styris batted really well. We got a couple of chances but we didn’t accept them. The wicket had bounce and that was what did the trick.”
Published in The Express Tribune, August 11th, 2010.
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