Neesham sends a message
Unwanted for the Black Caps in their Twenty20 series against India, Jimmy Neesham showed the national selectors what they were missing at the Basin Reserve yesterday.
The dynamic allrounder tore through Canterbury’s top-five in the Ford Trophy match in Wellington, taking 5-29 in a memorable 10-over spell.
After Black Caps one-day opener Henry Nicholls (62) and Chad Bowes (47) put on 112 for the first wicket, Neesham removed both along with Stephen Murdoch, Todd Astle and Jack Boyle as Canterbury lost 5-24 in 10.2 overs. They recovered to post 267-7 after winning the toss, with Cam Fletcher’s 73 off 58 balls giving Canterbury late momentum.
It was Neesham best bowling figures in his 120th list-A (50-over) match, beating his 5-31 against Afghanistan at last year’s World Cup.
Strangely, Neesham wasn’t required for New Zealand’s 13-man squad for the five T20s against India, with Daryl Mitchell preferred in the allrounder spot and not picked for the two Eden Park matches.
Both had similar figures in the Twenty20 Super Smash, with Neesham taking nine wickets (average 19, economy rate 8.47) for the champion Firebirds and
For coverage of last night’s third Twenty20 international between New Zealand and India, go to stuff. co.nz
Mitchell 10 wickets (average 19, ER 9.5) for the Knights.
Neesham was instead picked for New Zealand A who beat India A 2-1 in their one-day series.
Selector Gavin Larsen said when the T20 squad was named: ‘‘We see both Daryl and Jimmy as important allrounders in the T20 format. With a travelling squad of just 13 and the need to balance the options for the series, Daryl gets this opportunity against India as a reward for his consistent form for the Black Caps.’’
In Nelson there was a headline performance from Stags captain Ben Smith who plundered 149 not out in their total of 345-2 against Otago.
Smith and George Worker (99) put on 224 for the second wicket, before Kieran Noema-Barnett blasted 81 not out off 35 balls including eight sixes.
In his 50th list-A match it was Smith’s second century.