Quiet achiever Nicholls is making a noise
After securing a rare series win on foreign soil, the Black Caps had no time to waste in coming home with their next assignment starting Saturday, and their arrivals at Auckland Airport told a story.
Captain Kane Williamson was one of the first through, all business after a series where he scored the most runs, and notched his 19th test century to tilt the deciding test against Pakistan in New Zealand’s favour.
Offspinner Will Somerville made a beeline for his family, glad to be home less than 48 hours after finishing his first test with match figures of 7-127, the fourthbest match figures by a New Zealand test debutant.
Fellow spinner Ajaz Patel took his time but the crowd of two dozen family and friends didn’t 126 not out off 266 balls. really hard and the importance of mind one bit, mobbing him as ‘‘Kane was batting so wonderfully that is when you get in, you need soon as he was through the that it was just about trying to make it count for as along as arrival gate. Playing all three to build a partnership with him,’’ you can,’’ he said. tests on his first international Nicholls said.. ‘‘That was the important thing tour, he took 13 wickets at an ‘‘We knew the conditions were with Kane, putting on that 200 average of 29.61, including a haul tough and that it was only going partnership and keeping them of 7-123 on his debut, slightly better to get harder to bat on, so we out on the field for as long as we than Somerville’s. knew getting as a big a lead as we did, making those meaningful
Then there was Henry could get was going to be important contributions.’’ Nicholls, the quiet achiever as heading into that last day.’’ The Black Caps are in action New Zealand won an away test Nicholls also had lengthy again in less than a week, with series for just the 15th time. innings in the Black Caps’ second the first of two tests against Sri Finishing second to Williamson digs in the other two tests, lasting Lanka starting on Saturday at the on the Black Caps’ run-scoring 171 balls for 55 runs as they won Basin Reserve. chart with 287 to his name at an the first, then 187 balls for 77 runs Seam and swing-friendly conditions average of 79, it was a strong tour as they followed on on their way are expected, which will for the batsman who turned 27 to losing the second. make for quite a change from the while away. With a stay of 268 balls against United Arab Emirates but it’s a
The skipper and the spinners England in Auckland in March, challenge Nicholls is looking forward may have got most of the plaudits where he made 145, his highest to. but Nicholls played an important test score, Nicholls has two of the ‘‘We acknowledged and role, sticking with his captain on three longest innings by a New enjoyed the success we had over the fourth day of the third test Zealand batsman this year, and there but now we’re home and we after arriving at the crease at the has faced 1016 deliveries in 2018, start a test on Saturday at the fall of the fourth wicket with more than any of his team-mates. Basin. It’s exciting but we know Pakistan still in front by 14 runs. ‘‘Test cricket is tough, especially it’s going to be different conditions Unbeaten on 90 overnight, he overseas in those conditions, and a different challenge, quickly brought up his third test as you saw throughout that whole so it’s something we’ve got to prepare century on the final day and finished test series. Starting over there is well for.’’
A series triumph 49 years in the making:
TOM LATHAM (6 innings, 99 runs to feel safe for the five home tests. One significant knock in the second third test to carry on Williamson’s bat against spin and reverse swing. at 16.5, HS 50). Rating: 4 KANE WILLIAMSON (6 innings, test had New Zealand on the road hard toil and help post a Will enjoy a return home to A disappointing series for the 386 runs at 77.2, HS 139). Rating: 9 to safety but a soft catch ended competitive total. Showed how conditions. senior man and one of the best The thesaurus got a solid workout that. valuable he remains at No 6 and TIM SOUTHEE (37 overs, 4 wickets players of spin in the side. Played a during that third test as he showed HENRY NICHOLLS (6 innings, 287 kept his standards high with the at 24.50, BB 3-42). Rating: 6 loose shot to Yasir Shah then got a his absolute world class. Ground runs at 57.4, HS 126no). Rating: 8 gloves, snaring 10 catches and a Recalled for the third test, made a ripper from Hasan Ali and never out top score in the first innings Got through some jitters to stumping including a crucial leg rusty start after a few idle weeks really recovered. Looked set in the then crafted one of his best and confidently stamp his mark as a side grab to remove Asad Shafiq. but warmed to his task on the final second innings in Dubai but got a most significant hundreds in the batting mainstay for years to come, COLIN DE GRANDHOMME (6 day. A stunner to remove rough call and that was that. second, hugely satisfying for the especially his unbeaten third test innings, 63 runs at 10.5, HS 26; 63 Mohammad Hafeez got New
JEET RAVAL (6 innings, 131 runs at skipper to usher in one of the hundred which added to his overs, 5 wickets at 25.6, BB 2-30). Zealand on a roll and he helped 21.83, HS 46). Rating: 5 team’s best away series victories. growing catalogue of quality test Rating: 6 polish off the tail to play his part in Gets a pass mark for two significant ROSS TAYLOR (6 innings, 125 runs knocks under pressure. Should kick Made up ground on the last day of the victory. innings in his first tests away from at 20.83, HS 82). Rating: 5 on from here and have a big home the series with a power hitting WILL SOMERVILLE (56 overs, 7 home. Looked the part against the A funny old series for the senior summer. cameo then a gem of a delivery to wickets at 18.14, BB 4-75). quicks but fell into Yasir’s web in statesman who struggled against BJ WATLING (6 innings, 174 runs remove dangerman Azhar Ali. Had Rating: 9
Dubai and found it tricky to Yasir then hit out in the third test at 34.8, HS 77no). Rating: 8 some tidy spells with the ball, A cracking story and enhanced the extricate himself. Still good enough before falling to the leg side trap. Immense in the first innings of the otherwise it was a struggle with the fairytale by helping spin his country