Wise enjoys walk at 18 for first PGA win
ANDREW GALE has hailed Adil Rashid’s capabilities with the white ball after his return to Yorkshire colours at the weekend.
But the county coach admits he cannot help but be frustrated at Rashid’s missed opportunity with the red one.
Leg-spinner Rashid, now specialising as a limited overs cricketer, has hit the ground running for the Vikings at the start of their Royal London OneDay Cup campaign.
The England star took four wickets in Friday’s comprehensive win over Durham before going wicketless, but causing problems, in Sunday’s home defeat against Warwickshire.
Prior to Friday’s appearance, aside from some second XI cricket 30-year-old Rashid had not played since March 10 during England’s one-day international series in New Zealand, but county coach Gale never lost faith in Rashid’s abilities.
“I knew he’d come in and do well in white-ball cricket,” said Gale.
“I don’t know where he’s been bowling. There must be somewhere in Bradford because he’s come back in excellent form. He must have been bowling at his brothers in the nets. I’m really pleased for him.
“My only frustration with Rash is that I look at Dom Bess getting picked for England and see the way Rash bowls. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a white or red ball, it’s still round.
“There is no way he should not be playing Test cricket for England, and that’s a frustration.
“I think he’s wasted his talent in that respect. But his whiteball cricket, he’s up there as one of the best in the world. He’s a massive player for us.
“You can see just how difficult he is to face. They just can’t pick his googly. He’s a fantastic performer.”
Rashid returned figures of 0-46 from 10 overs and was unfortunate not to strike against Warwickshire, who rode on Sam Hain’s unbeaten 102 to chase down 248 with five wickets in hand.
The Bears played him the way Yorkshire should have played off-spinner Jeetan Patel, who claimed a crucial four-wicket haul. “Exactly,” said Gale, “and we spoke about that in the dressing room. They played well against him, took him at four or five an over without taking a risk.” AMERICAN Aaron Wise claimed his first PGA Tour victory with a bogey-free final round at the AT&T Byron Nelson in Dallas.
The 21-year-old hit six birdies to card a round of six-under 65, finishing three shots ahead of second-place Marc Leishman on 23-under overall – and claiming a new tournament record.
Australia’s Leishman, who had produced a stunning opening round of 61, shot 68 on day four, recovering from a bogey on the second hole to hit an eagle on the par-4 fifth before two further wayward shots gave him bogeys on the 10th and 15th holes.
Wise, who shared a four-shot lead with Leishman heading into the final round, continued to pull away from his opponent, on a day affected by a four-hour weather delay, with four birdies in a row on holes seven to 10.
Wise said: “It was awesome, everything I dreamed of. It was incredible. Marc played great, really gave me a run for his money.
“He hit the ball incredible. I knew he would have a ton of looks from hole three on, and he did. Unfortunately he didn’t make all the putts and I was able to edge him out.”
He added: “I was able to finally get the putter hot in the middle stretch of that round and birdieing seven through 10 really set me apart because I looked at the leaderboard there on the eighth green and realised that a lot of people were making an early charge and I knew I needed to kind of separate myself. I was able to do that because my putter got hot and to walk up 18 knowing I kind of had it locked up was pretty cool.
“I don’t think many people get to do that their first win. It was truly special for me to be able to take in the crowd like that.”
South African Branden Grace fired a round of 62 to finish in joint third with Americans JJ Spaun and Keith Mitchell, who both got round the final day in 63 and ended on 19 under overall.