Kings need to cut out extras
The Canterbury Kings are emphasising the need to limit extras ahead of Sunday’s Twenty20 home match against Auckland at Hagley Oval.
Canterbury opened the McDonald’s Super Smash with a seven run loss [Duckworth-Lewis method] to the Central Stags in a rain-affected match in New Plymouth last Sunday.
Kings coach Brendon Donkers said it was a patchy bowling effort at the small Pukekura Park ground as Central got through to 198-6 from their 20 overs.
Donkers wasn’t impressed with seven wides and two no balls, which are even more costly and frustrating in cricket’s shortest format.
‘‘We don’t tolerate it. Our discipline was a little bit off [with the ball].
‘‘We paid for that. It was maybe 15 or 20 runs too many,’’ Donkers said.
‘‘We bowled well at the top, but we weren’t as accurate as we would have liked.
‘‘On a short boundary, if you miss [your accuracy], you’re going to go.’’
With seven days between the first and second rounds, Canterbury and Otago met up in Oamaru this week for a T20 friendly on Thursday [Wednesday’s match was washed out].
Donkers said the 39-run win was a pleasing hit-out and was impressed with converted opener Cam Fletcher, who hit 37 off 40 balls.
Off-spinner Tim Johnston was effective with 3-19, while seamer Logan van Beek took 2-25 as he returns to top-level action following an off-season groin injury.
Auckland opened the competition with a 22-run win over Otago and Donkers said it was important the Kings returned to winning ways in Christchurch.
‘‘You need momentum in this competition and we need to perform well and start the ball rolling.’’
Auckland have Martin Guptill, Colin de Grandhomme, Colin Munro and Lockie Ferguson in Australia with the Black Caps, but possess a talented line-up, featuring Rob Nicol, Jeet Raval, Mitchell McClenaghan, Tarun Nethula and English left-armer Tymal Mills.
The Kings have a busy run of matches after Sunday. They play three games over four days, starting with the Wellington Firebirds at Hagley on Thursday.
Canterbury’s Black Caps’ quartet of Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls and Todd Astle are set to be available for the three game span with the latter two no doubt eager for match play.