High fives all round as Black Caps ease to win
Black Caps captain Kane Williamson couldn’t help but sing Jeet Raval’s and Colin de Grandhomme’s praises after his team’s series opening win against Pakistan.
The Auckland debutants both played a key part in New Zealand’s convincing eight-wicket win at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval, a result which took less than two and a half days of actual cricket.
De Grandhomme was named man of the match in the win after finishing with match figures of 7-64, including the best figures (6-41) by a New Zealander on debut in the first innings, while opener Raval followed up his first innings of 55 with an unbeaten 36 in the second innings.
He and captain Kane Williamson (61) were the only two players to go past fifty in the low-scoring match, and powered New Zealand past their target of 105 with ease on Sunday’s day four.
‘"They were outstanding,’’ Williamson said after the match.
‘‘To see Colin on that surface. I suppose he was the perfect bowler for it. A nice pace, and sort of bowled seam upright so it could go both ways. It complimented the other bowlers really well.’’
Williamson said Raval, who also snatched four catches in the field, appeared as if he had been playing international cricket for years.
‘‘He was very calm, very relaxed, stuck to the game plan and certainly reaped the rewards in this match,’’ Williamson said.
The win gave New Zealand an unassailable 1-0 series lead in the two-match series, and ensures the Black Caps are on track to win their first test series against Pakistan since 1985.
If Pakistan are to bounce back and deny New Zealand the rare series win, they will have to do it without skipper Misbah-ul-haq, who has flown home to be with his critically ill father-in-law.
New Zealand could be boosted by the return of all-rounder Mitchell Santner, who will have the cast removed from his previously broken wrist today, while bowler Trent Boult picked up a knee injury on day four.
Williamson said he was ‘‘hoping’’ both Boult and Santner would be available for the second test, but it was too early to know the status of either.
Ross Taylor is also in doubt with a recurring eye problem. He will see a specialist today.
While the Black Caps lost Tom Latham, who edged a short delivery to gully with just nine runs to his name, and Williamson for 61 with his side a run shy of victory, New Zealand was always in control of their day four chase.
Their second innings was a contrast to the first three innings of the match, when 30 wickets fell for just 304 runs.
The match marked the first time that all 30 wickets in the first
‘‘It’s nice to get a win, but more importantly, I guess, to have a performance that didn’t show too much baggage from the past.’’ New Zealand captain Kane Williamson
three innings of a test match in New Zealand were taken by seamers.
‘‘It’s nice to get a win, but more
importantly, I guess, to have a performance that didn’t show too much baggage from the past,’’ Williamson, who led his team in recent series losses to South Africa and India, said.
With day one being washed out on Thursday without a ball being bowled, 13 wickets on day two ensured there was always going to be ample time for a result.
Resuming day four on 129-7, Pakistan added 42 runs to their second innings total of 171 all out.
Tim Southee snared two of the final three wickets, with Neil Wagner picking up the other.
No 9 Sohail Khan provided some early resistance, and went on to score 40 crucial runs – four more than his previous career high.
But when he helped a Southee short ball around the corner for de Grandhomme to snaffle at backward square leg, it provided the breakthrough New Zealand was hunting.
Wagner, who on day three went past 100 test wickets, picked up his third wicket of the innings shortly afterwards, when Asad Shafiq was well caught by Raval at deep midwicket.
Rahat Ali was the last man out, caught by Latham at short leg off Southee’s bowling for two.
Spinner Mark Craig, who two years ago took 8-188 in his debut test match, can rest easy after de Grandhomme didn’t get an opportunity to break his mark on day four.