Fun brings boost in form for Neesham

When the Ford Trophy began five weeks ago, there was a gaping hole in Jimmy Neesham’s record.

Ten seasons into his career, he was yet to score a one-day century, whether at domestic level or for the Black Caps.

Now he has two, the second coming on Wednesday as he led Wellington into Saturday’s final against the Otago Volts. Arriving at the crease in the 18th over, he scored 120 of the 151 runs they needed to thwart the defending champion Auckland Aces.

That innings will help put him in the frame as the Black Caps selectors finalise their plans for

innings and sparked a collapse of 7-11 in 39 balls, before snaring 14 wickets for the match which had never been done in a test against New Zealand.

‘‘It was right up there in terms next year’s World Cup. Yesterday, he was included in the New Zealand A side for a one-day series against India A as a return to the national team for the first time since July 2017 looks increasingly likely.

Neesham stepped away from cricket for a month earlier this year, needing to recharge himself, and after making an off-season move to Wellington from Dunedin, he told Stuff he was looking to find fun in his cricket, something he believed had been missing since 2014.

The 28-year-old all-rounder has scored 497 runs in the Ford Trophy this season, averaging 71 with a strike rate of 110, a better

of quality. The drop and the drift that he was able to generate, especially in that first innings in that spell, was as good as I’ve seen,’’ McMillan said.

‘‘That was one of the things return than everyone except team-mate Andrew Fletcher (614 runs at 61.40). He has also taken 13 wickets at an average of 28.07, and believes his body is coping better with a full bowling load than it has before.

Neesham said this week he was enjoying the season so far and that was part of why he is in such a rich vein of form.

‘‘You have tough times and you’re never going to enjoy every minute of every day, but I’m a bit more grateful I’m playing sport for a living, and getting to travel the country with my mates and play a game has helped me a lot.

‘‘If you decide which one’s causing the other, trying to have

that made Shane Warne so difficult to face, was that drift. We saw that with a couple of dismissals, the likes of Taylor, that late drop and drift and it just takes the bat out of line.’’ fun and trying to enjoy it is causing the wins and the runs rather than the other way around. That’s the approach I’ll be taking into the game on Saturday.’’ New Zealand A one-day squad to play India A: Not considered due to injury: Schedule:

Taylor was bowled by a classic leg spinner’s delivery and Nicholls, two balls later, got one that turned and bounced sharply through a hole in his defence.

Shah was far from unplayable