Wood finds somethingto smile about despite 10-wicket drubbing
MARK Wood admitted his North team didn’t have much to smile about after their 10-wicket drubbing in the opening match of the North-South Series in Dubai.
But at least the Durham and England star had the personal consolation of bowling his first seven overs in competitive cricket since the shock of discovering he had ended last season with a fractured bone in his left ankle.
Wood generated as much pace as anyone on an unusually slow surface at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, and is looking forward to continuing his comeback in the remainder of the series – with the North needing to win the day-night rematch in Dubai today to keep the series alive.
“I think I was the only bloke in the North team that was happy,” said the 27-year-old. “To get seven overs in – at the minute it’s not too much about the outcome for me, it’s just getting that volume of overs into my body.
“I felt great yesterday – it’s the first time I can honestly say that I’ve not really felt much in the ankle. So lots of positives for me. Whether I play the next game or one of the next two, that’ll be perfect, and try and get a full 10 overs in – we’ll need the full overs so our batters had better pull their fingers out.”
Dawid Malan and Daniel BellDrummond posted an unbroken stand of 205 as South crushed North.
The North-South fixture was making its return to the calendar for the first time since 1961, now as a threematch 50-over series rather than a first-class encounter, with England head coach Trevor Bayliss casting his eye over proceedings.
He cannot have failed to be impressed by Malan’s 109 not out and Bell-Drummond’s 92no, knocks that made light of North’s 202 all out.
A North side captained by Keaton Jennings and led by England bowling coach Ottis Gibson opted to bat first, only to be dismissed in 43.3 overs for an underpowered total.
Ben Duckett fell to Tom Curran before Jennings and the in-form Liam Livingstone were mopped up by Toby Roland-Jones.
Opener Sam Hain managed 33 before a bright stand of 63 between Joe Clarke (57) and Tim Bresnan (40) added some substance to the middle order.
But it was not enough as South, guided by Bayliss’ number two Paul Farbrace, continued picking up regular wickets. Recent England call-up Curran claimed three for 19 and leftarm spinner Liam Dawson great control en route to two for 29.
Highly-rated leg-spinner Mason Crane struck twice but also suffered more than most in conceding 72 runs.
Malan and Drummond proved more than capable of reeling in the runs, crossing the line with 99 deliveries unbowled.
Between them the duo hit 27 fours and three sixes, having successfully seen off an early examination from Wood and Bresnan, the latter seeing Malan dropped in his first spell.
The next game takes place in Dubai on Sunday, with North needing a win to stay in the series
Wood finished with 0-45, and said: “We were a little bit deflated, we got a good hammering. The South thoroughly deserved to win, they outplayed us in all areas.
“But we scored 400 in the warm-up game, so I think we’ve just got to draw a line in the sand and go to the next game. As a bowling unit we were striving for wickets, and as a batting group we didn’t put on as many partnerships as we wanted. So we’ve got to change that and turn it around next game.”