Kyle goes the extra mile
Kyle Jamieson’s incredible start to test shows no sign of abating, but neither does Pakistan’s ability to stay with the Black Caps as another enthralling four days of cricket beckon.
If anything, Jamieson looks to be getting more threatening with ball in hand, a daunting prospect for opposing batsmen and quite remarkable when you consider bowling was essentially an afterthought to him until about seven years ago.
The 26-year-old’s stunning start to international cricket continued in the second test against Pakistan at Hagley Oval in Christchurch yesterday, as he ripped through the tourists’ top order in a devastating pre-lunch spell on the rainaffected opening day.
He returned to claim the important breakthrough of captain Mohammad Rizwan for a defiant 61 in his second spell.
Pakistan, predictably sent into bat when New Zealand captain Kane Williamson won the toss, fought hard and were 260-7 about 45 minutes before stumps were due to be drawn after 7pm. It marked a good fightback after being reduced to 88-4 at lunch following Jamieson’s early strikes.
Azhar Ali, who fell seven runs short of an 18th test century, led the resistance, combining with Rizwan for an 88-run fifth wicket partnership, then putting on another 56 for the sixth wicket with Faheem Ashraf before he nicked one off Matt Henry.
Pakistan had made a solid start after being sent into bat on a pitch which always offers some early pace and bounce, negotiating their way through the new-ball pair of Tim Southee and Trent Boult to reach 66-1 about 90 minutes into the first session.
But Jamieson was a different prospect, sending the ball down from 2.04m and getting steepling bounce off a good length. He troubled Azhar Ali and Abid Ali from the outset and kept the slips cordon, and Henry Nicholls at gully, in play at all times.
It felt like a matter of time before he got the rewards, and they came thick and fast.
Abid Ali was the first to succumb, edging Jamieson to Southee at third slip, before Haris Sohail’s decision to leave outside off was too late, the ball catching the bottom of the withdrawing bat and going straight to Nicholls at gully.
The ball of the morning got first test century-maker Fawad Alam soon after, a short-ofa-length delivery at the body that took off and caught Alam on the glove, the ball ballooning up to wicket-keeper BJ Watling as Alam was put on his backside in the failed attempt to get out of the way of it.
All indications pre-match were that Hagley Oval would suit Jamieson to a tee, and there was nothing to suggest his early test record of 25 wickets at 14.44 from five tests was in danger of blowing out over the next four days.
The man who was a top order
Ata glance
For the latest on the second test between New Zealand and Pakistan at Hagley Oval in Christchurch, go to stuff.co.nz batsman when he arrived in Christchurch from south Auckland to take up a Lincoln University scholarship seven years ago said in an interview with Stuff last summer: ‘‘I’m still a long way off where I want to be as a bowler and cricketer ... in the next year or so I think I’m going to make massive strides. There’s still a lot more to come.’’
He appears to be keeping to his word.