Nicholls, Taylor star for NZ
New Zealand’s brains trust could not have asked more of the batsmen as they prepare for a summer headlining one-day international series against India.
Two big scores batting first in Mt Maunganui (371-7 and 319-7) were usurped by a superb allround effort in Nelson yesterday, the Black Caps racking up 364-4 as they crushed Sri Lanka by 115 runs and swept the series 3-0.
Ross Taylor’s 20th ODI century (137 from 131 balls) and a record-equalling sixth successive innings past 50 was almost upstaged by Henry Nicholls, who ripped a flagging bowling attack apart as he smashed his way to an unbeaten 124 from just 80 balls, his maiden ODI hundred.
What made New Zealand’s batting effort more impressive than the first two games was the conditions they faced at Saxton Oval. The pitch was slower than expected and they lost both openers early. They adapted quickly, rebuilt the innings, and then launched late and large.
It was sophisticated yet, at times, brutal batsmanship as they eclipsed the highest team score from 10 previous ODIs at Saxton Oval by more than 40 runs.
A pass mark for the bowlers, too, who were pounded by Thisara Perera just a few days ago and under the pump again early in the Sri Lankan chase, as the tourists raced to 50 inside seven overs.
But Tim Southee got the initial breakthrough and top-order wickets tumbled at regular enough intervals to keep Sri Lanka well out of the chase at 143-5.
Enter Perera, again. He slapped 80 off 63 balls to provide plenty of resistance, but once he fell New Zealand put the squeeze on and rolled the last five wickets for five runs, Sri Lanka dismissed for 249 in the 42nd over.
The contrasting Taylor and Nicholls hundreds underpinned the Black Caps’ innings.
Taylor and Williamson (55 off 65 balls) combined at 31-2 and worked the Sri Lankan bowlers for plenty of singles interspersed with enough boundaries to maintain a healthy run-rate.
The platform was set and Taylor and Nicholls capitalised with calculated efficiency. Nicholls was quick out of the blocks, busy, inventive and happy to play all around the ground.
Taylor became the first Kiwi to score 20 ODI tons and then unleashed, hitting four sixes before holing out at square leg and bringing to an end a record fourth-wicket partnership for New Zealand against Sri Lanka of 154 from 120 balls.
Nicholls pushed into fifth gear and stormed to his first ODI ton, swatting Lasith Malinga over backward square leg for the second of three sixes to bring up the milestone off 71 balls, the sixth quickest for New Zealand.