Kitchen cooks up T20 entree
Nicholls struck a career-high 83 not out from 62 balls, while Astle, playing in just his second ODI, scored 49 from 45 balls before he was bowled.
Their stand surpassed Nathan Astle’s and Scott Styris’ 122-run partnership in Port of Spain in 2002, and ensured New Zealand scored 129 from the last 15 overs.
Nicholls’ third ODI 50 included seven fours and a pair of sixes, but only after he successfully reviewed an lbw decision when he was on just 22. Umpire Wayne Knights adjudged the left-hander lbw off Sheldon Cottrell, only for replays to show the ball missing leg stump.
Nicholls, who scored two runs off the final ball of the innings to surpass his previous highest score (82 against Pakistan), was one of three Black Caps to go past 50.
Worker (58 runs) and Taylor (57) raised their bats against a bowling attack which rarely troubled the home side.
Taylor’s 39th ODI 50 – only Nathan Astle (41) and Stephen Fleming (49) have more for NZ – came off 60 deliveries, while Worker needed just 45 balls.
Worker, given a life by wicketkeeper Shai Hope, who dropped him when he was on seven, had ample time to turn his third ODI half century into a maiden ton.
Aside from gloving a bouncer to Hope, who couldn’t snaffle the chance diving to his left, he was untroubled by the visitors’ attack as he backed up the 57 he scored in the opening match of the series.
However, having just survived a mix-up with Taylor, he blew his chance when he pulled a Ronsford Beaton delivery down fine leg’s throat.
It ended his 58-run partnership with Taylor, who edged a shortpitched Holder delivery to Hope as New Zealand got through to the 33rd over at 186-5. EXPERIENCED Otago allrounder Anaru Kitchen is the shock selection in New Zealand’s Twenty20 squad to face the West Indies in a three-match series, starting on Friday.
The 33-year-old left-arm spinner, who usually bats in the middle order, earned his spot after consistent performances for the Volts in white-ball cricket in recent seasons.
Kitchen typically opens the bowling and has proved difficult to get away, often picking up early wickets.
He pipped Canterbury legspinner Todd Astle, who is in the ODI squad, for the third frontline spinner role in the squad, alongside Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi.
‘‘Anaru has performed superbly for Otago the past couple of seasons and with his ability to bowl as well, he brings a lot to the side,’’ Black Caps chief selector Gavin Larsen said.
Anaru has performed superbly for Otago.’
Kitchen attracted international headlines earlier this month after bowling suspended English allrounder Ben Stokes in his return to cricket for Canterbury.
Veteran batsman Ross Taylor, who was named in the T20 squad for the tour of India in OctoberNovember, but didn’t feature, has been selected for the opening T20 in Nelson.
He will bolster the top order, with regular skipper Kane Williamson sitting out the first T20, but returning for the last two matches in Mount Maunganui.
Taylor hasn’t played a T20 for New Zealand since March, 2016, in a World Cup semifinal loss to England. The 33-year-old has appeared in 73 T20 internationals since 2006, averaging 24 at a strike rate of 120.
Fast bowler Tim Southee will captain the side in the first match.
With a busy summer ahead, star bowler Trent Boult will miss the first two T20s as part of a planned break.
Hard-hitting opener Martin Guptill rejoins after recovering from a left hamstring issue.
‘‘He’s made good progress and recently trained with the side in Whangarei [ahead of the first ODI].
‘‘Every side in the world is aware of how dangerous a player Martin is,’’ said Larsen. NZ T20 squad: Tim Southee, Doug Bracewell, Tom Bruce, Lockie Ferguson, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Anaru Kitchen, Colin Munro, Glenn Phillips, Seth Rance, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Ross Taylor (1st T20), Kane Williamson (2nd and 3rd T20), Trent Boult (3rd T20).