Mayhem in the middle costly for Black Caps
He’s lighter in the wallet but the batting burden on Kane Williamson is New Zealand’s weightiest issue as their Champions Trophy fate rests in English hands.
Worryingly for a second successive one-day cricket international it was four out, all out for the Black Caps as they lost by 87 runs to England who booked top spot from group A.
Key men Williamson and Ross Taylor’s departures in quick succession started a collapse of 8-65 as New Zealand were dismissed for 223 in the 45th over in Cardiff.
It leaves a simple scenario for the blokes in black: beat Bangladesh tomorrow night then hope England beat Australia the following day, and a semifinal spot is theirs. After Bangladesh and Australia shared the points from a washout, both remain in semifinal contention too.
It was a heck of a day for Williamson, who called correctly at a coin toss that became a great one to lose. He batted out of his skin, again, for 87 off 98 balls before a snorter from Mark Wood sent him packing.
Then, he was fined 40 per cent of his match fee (around $1500) for New Zealand’s slow over rate and faces a one-game ban if the team transgress again. Williamson pleaded guilty to the charge laid by umpires Rod Tucker and Paul Reiffel. His team-mates were each stung 20 per cent of their match fees (around $750) for the Black Caps being two overs behind schedule.
Chasing 311 was daunting but with Williamson in full flight anything is possible. When he departed in the 31st over then Taylor followed three overs later trying to lift the rate, New Zealand still had plenty of batting left.
On a much better surface at Edgbaston they lost 7-37 after Williamson was run out for 100 against Australia. This was more pressure-packed and the middle order folded in a heap; key allrounders Jimmy Neesham and Corey Anderson flaying away and Mitchell Santner charging and stumped off a wide.
Neil Broom also had his second scratchy innings in as many starts before Adil Rashid’s legspin trapped him in front.
Likely changes are few. Tom Latham could come in at No 5 which would be makeshift only. Colin de Grandhomme could also replace Neesham but whether he adds much more is questionable.
They’ll likely keep the same batting lineup and, if Williamson is somehow dismissed early, the big test will loom for the middle order who also folded badly against South Africa, in Wellington and Auckland, when the big guns up top missed out.
‘‘It was a tough surface to start on and when we did lose wickets and were required to come out and play more shots with our middle and lower order it was a really tough job,’’ Williamson said.