Anderson threatens to get better
It’s the news opposing sides won’t want to hear.
Blockbusting Black Caps batsman Corey Anderson says he’ll get better with the bat when he starts to bowl again.
After smashing 10 sixes in a match-dictating 94 not out as New Zealand clean-swept Bangladesh in their three-match Twenty20 series, Anderson said he’s hopeful of being able to contribute with the ball again soon.
A troublesome back has constantly hindered Anderson’s ability to be a consistent allrounder, and he was again withdrawn from bowling duties early this season as back problems reared again.
‘‘I’m just working on it in the background,’’ Anderson said of his bowling shortly after the Black Caps beat Bangladesh by 27 runs at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on Sunday in the last of three Twenty20 matches.
‘‘It’s frustrating – hopefully sooner than later I can be back at the bowling crease.
‘‘I guess in games like this you don’t miss bowling that much. But it’ll be nice to be back, and I’ll turn into a bit of a better batter as well.
‘‘You feel that complete player, I guess, to be in the game the whole time. If you miss out with the bat, you can perform with the ball and vice-versa.
Anderson gave his pending bowling return as ‘‘shortly’’.
‘‘I think we’ll steer clear of timeframes – if you put timeframes and markers in place, you tend to rush when things aren’t going smoothly.
‘‘Wherever the finish point is I’m unsure, but I think we’ll get there slowly and steadily.’’
Another shaky start saw the Black Caps stumble to 41-3 at the start of the seventh over before Anderson and Kane Williamson combined for a rescue mission that allowed the hosts to compile 194-4 from their 20 overs.
Anderson, who almost perished to a catch that injured Bangladesh’s Imrul Kayes as he tumbled over the bulky electronic advertising signs on the boundary, punished some poor bowling in the latter stages of the innings.
He slammed 10 sixes – the most in a T20 international for NZ – in his highest T20 international score off just 41 balls.
The captain, dropped on 53, made 60 off 57 balls, with six fours and a six.
The duo added 124 for the fourth wicket to set a new NZ record, with the previous mark lasting only two days. On Friday, Colin Munro and Tom Bruce had put on 123 for the fourth wicket in NZ’s win.
‘‘I’ve been out, I guess, in the wilderness a bit in international cricket, but it’s nice after two low scores to come back and get that score and have a decent total on the board and clean up the series with a whitewash,’’ Anderson said.
‘‘I kept thinking ‘we’ve still got a lot of firepower back in the shed’ and I don’t want to sit out here and chew up some balls with guys like Colin de Grandhomme coming out with not too many balls to face.’’
Requiring 195 for their first victory on tour this summer, following two previous Twenty20s and three ODI defeats – Bangladesh could only manage 167-6 in their 20 overs.
They began their chase in a hurry, despite the absence of regular opener Kayes.
His replacement, Soumya Sarkar, raced to 42 off 28 balls – with six fours – before perishing to an excellent caught and bowled from Ish Sodhi as the NZ spinners slowed the visitors’ pursuit after the powerplay overs.
As the pressure mounted, Sabbir Rahman produced a shocker to be bowled off-stump behind his legs by Black Caps skipper Kane Williamson.
The visitors went seven overs without a boundary – and then got two in as many balls off Trent Boult – but couldn’t maintain any momentum as NZ legspinner Sodhi starred with 2-22 off his two overs.