Black Caps wary of Stoinis threat
Rain again threatens to interrupt Napier’s big cricketing day but whether Marcus Stoinis can strike twice was the bigger question around Mclean Park.
The powerhouse Australian allrounder surveyed the boundaries for today’s second Chappellhadlee Trophy match - long straight, short at the sides - then swaggered across the road to the Nelson Park nets to send some more white Kookaburras into orbit.
Whether he can have similar impact to his mind-boggling Auckland onslaught of 146 off 117 balls in New Zealand’s six-run win holds the key to game two starting at 2pm, where the hosts can snatch back the prized trophy with a match to spare.
If New Zealand were surprised by Stoinis’ brutal and prolonged hitting power they’re well versed now. It’s a long straight clout for six in Napier and a likely unchanged Black Caps bowling attack will go full and attack the stumps, challenging Stoinis to flay across the line towards the enticing grandstands.
‘‘We’ve seen in the Big Bash he can clear the rope with ease on those big grounds. He liked Eden Park with the short straight boundaries,’’ New Zealand spinner Mitchell Santner said.
‘‘It’s a different game in Napier and we’ll have to find a way to get under his bat and get him out that way. Fair play to him, that was a Superman knock, and you can’t do much when he’s going like that.’’
Santner used the Superman line twice, one also favoured by coach Mike Hesson the morning after game one where the Black Caps had Australia 67-6 defending 286. It suggests they’re confident of snaring him second time around and this was one out of the box in his second ODI at age 27. Rarely do batsmen follow up with another equally destructive knock.
But for Australia he’s now their trump card. ‘‘We feel like if can give ourselves a chance with wickets in hand, we can chase down any score,’’ said injured captain Matthew Wade who was ruled out of the tour with a back injury.
‘‘We probably didn’t expect Stoiny to do exactly what he did, but that was a phenomenal innings.’’
The sports bookies still have Australia favourites to send the series to a decider in Hamilton on Sunday, despite the Black Caps having an edge against the tourists without Steve Smith and David Warner. The hosts have won nine of the last 13 trans-tasman ODIS in New Zealand.
Opener Martin Guptill stood at training with a hamstring support, and joined in the applause in the team huddle when Dean Brownlie appeared to be confirmed for his first ODI in 25 months.
Brownlie was summoned for Guptill after he tweaked a hamstring in Auckland and is confident of returning for game three, which means a potential one-off for the Northern Knights opener.
The microscope will go on New Zealand’s fifth bowling option after Jimmy Neesham was savaged by Stoinis in Auckland. Neesham, Colin Munro and Kane Williamson - on a dry pitch that could assist slow bowling - will have to do 10 overs between them and will be targeted again.
‘‘As a spinner you kind of want them to go across the line, if there’s a little bit there for you and hopefully get a little top edge or one to skid on and lbw,’’ said Santner, one their best bowlers in Auckland.
The Hamilton lad was revelling in the Chappell-hadlee drama which drew 27,911 to Eden Park and will likely see Mclean Park bulging with a 10,000-plus sellout.
In drought-stricken Hawke’s Bay, rain is forecast between noon and 6pm but not heavy, which raised hope of at least a shortened game in the city where cricket strangely seems to attract dark clouds.