Taylor ready to shore up Black Caps batting

Ross Taylor’s likely return and an unbeaten ODI cricket record at University Oval gives New Zealand confidence, but concerns about their flaky middle order will follow them to Dunedin too.

With Kane Williamson’s 112 not out labelled his best innings of the past year by coach Mike Hesson, the skipper was let down by an awful mid-innings collapse in Saturday’s third oneday international against England in Wellington.

England head into Wednesday’s fourth ODI at a sold-out University Oval in the box seat again at 2-1 up with two to play, after their four-run win in a thriller, defending 234.

Taylor watched from the New Zealand dugout at Westpac Stadium, sidelined by a thigh injury, as they lost 4-6 in 21 balls against England spinners Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid to slump to 103-6.

Taylor’s return will boost the chances of keeping the ODI series alive, and Hesson said he’d made good progress. Mark Chapman will remain as cover but it’s hard to see Taylor missing this one short of a setback.

‘‘Any side in the world, you miss those quality players in your lineup. We’ve got some exciting talent, the likes of Mark Chapman, but at the moment they’re not Ross Taylor.

‘‘Ross is obviously in great form so let’s hope he’s back for Dunedin,’’ Hesson said.

It’s no coincidence New Zealand’s back-to-back losses came with Williamson (hamstring) missing at Mt Maunganui, then Taylor sidelined in Wellington.

Between them they have 29 ODI centuries and Taylor’s 18th set the platform for their Hamilton victory last weekend.

They were skittled for a very poor 223 on a Bay Oval belter then, thanks to Colin Munro’s mature 49 off 62, Williamson’s heroics and Mitchell Santner’s vital 41 off 54, reached the final ball in Wellington needing four to tie on a poor pitch.

Then Chapman, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls and Colin de Grandhomme fell like ninepins after a solid platform. Nicholls has scores of 0, 1 and 0 this series and de Grandhomme 2, 38 and 3, the latter a galling lofted drive to long-on.

‘‘It was a very difficult wicket to start on and they were all a little bit different. Some were very poor decision making, others were a lack of execution. We just required a bit of batsmanship through the middle with Kane and we didn’t get it till Mitch Santner came in and played superbly,’’ Hesson said.

‘‘We see all our guys as good players and they all go through little lulls. Once you get a start you’re expected to carry on, and he [Nicholls] just hasn’t got a start yet.’’

Hesson hailed an ‘‘outstanding’’ fielding effort and a quality bowling performance on a patchy, variable surface that aided de Grandhomme (1-24 off 10).