Nicholls, Taylor star for NZ
fred.woodcock@stuff.co.nz
New Zealand’s brains trust could not have asked more of the batsmen as they prepare for a summer headlining one-day international cricket 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.
Nicholls was understandably happy with his his maiden ODI hundred but quick to deflect praise to Taylor.
‘‘It’s nice to contribute and it was nice to bat with Ross out there,’’ he said. ‘‘The consistency he has is testament to the experience and quality he has.’’
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 early on and they lost both openers cheaply. 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.
‘‘We know in New Zealand you can catch up later and I think we’ve done that very well in all three games. Do the donkey work through the middle and put the icing on the cake at the end,’’ said Taylor, who thought Nicholls batted ‘‘fantastically well’’.
"I thought he came out and was busy from ball one and set the tone, which made my job a lot easier.’’
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.
Tim Southee got breakthrough and the initial top-order wickets tumbled at regular enough intervals to reduce Sri Lanka to 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.
Nicholls was quick out of the blocks, busy, inventive and happy to play all around the ground.
Taylor upped the ante too, and they systematically dissected the attack, Taylor becoming the first Kiwi to score 20 ODI tons and then unleashed, hitting four sixes before holing out at square leg. Third ODI at Saxton Oval, Nelson:
NEW ZEALAND
M Guptill c Mendis b Malinga ................... 2 C Munro b Malinga ....................................... 21 K Williamson c de Silva b Sandakan .. 55 R Taylor c de Silva b Malinga ................ 137 H Nicholls not out ...................................... 124 J Neesham not out ....................................... 12 Extras (1b, 5lb, 6w, 1nb) .............................. 13 Total (for 4 wickets, 50 overs) ........... 364 Fall: 16, 31, 147, 301.
Bowling: L Malinga 10-1-93-3 (1w), D Chameera 8-0-55-0, N Pradeep 9-1-77-0 (5w, 1nb), T Perera 2-0-8-0, L Sandakan 10-0-54-1, D Shanaka 6-0-36-0, D de Silva 5-0-35-0.
SRI LANKA
N Dickwella c Ferguson b Neesham..46 D de Silva lbw b Southee ......................... 36 K Perera c Seifert b Ferguson ............... 43 K Mendis run out ............................................ 0 D Shanaka lbw b Sodhi ................................ 2 T Perera c Guptill b Ferguson .............. 80 D Gunathilaka b Ferguson ....................... 31 D Chameera c Southee b Ferguson ....... 1 L Malinga st Seifert b Sodhi ...................... 0 L Sandakan not out ....................................... 0 N Pradeep b Sodhi ......................................... 0 Extras (3lb, 7w) .............................................. 10 Total (41.4 overs) ....................................... 249 Fall: 66, 107, 107, 117, 143, 244, 249, 249, 249, 249.
Bowling: T Southee 7-0-46-1 (4w), M Henry 8-0-62-0 (2w), L Ferguson 8-0-40-4 (1w), J Neesham 5-0-34-1, K Williamson 5-0-24-0, I Sodhi 8.4-0-40-3.
Result: New Zealand won by 115 runs. Series: New Zealand won 3-0.