Taylor rides to Black Caps’ rescue
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 one-day international against England in Wellington.
England head into Wednesday’s fourth ODI at a soldout University Oval in the box seat again at 2-1 up with two to play, after their fourrun 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.
It’s now or never for Taylor’s return, in terms of keeping the ODI series alive into Christchurch on Saturday, and Hesson said he’d made good progress. Mark Chapman will remain as cover but it’s hard to see Taylor missing this one unless he has a setback.
‘‘Any side in the world, you miss those quality players in your
‘‘Some were very poor decisionmaking, others were a lack of execution.’’
New Zealand coach Mike Hesson on his team’s batting collapse
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 suffered back-to-back losses with Williamson (hamstring) missing at Mt Maunganui then Taylor sidelined in Wellington.
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.
They had the stuffing knocked out of them when 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.
‘‘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. But they’re working hard in the nets. 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).
The Black Caps were set at 80-1 when Munro reined in his natural instincts, but when Ben Stokes snared a brilliant catch at short cover it all changed.
Williamson was stiff and sore, having been on the field for all but the first 2.1 overs of New Zealand’s innings. He was still sprinting hard in the final over when they needed 15 and he got them close with a six off Chris Woakes.
‘‘It’s probably the best Kane has played in 12 months, in terms of the way he stuck to his gameplan from ball one. As the only player to get past 50 it suggests it was a pretty outstanding innings. To get us to a point where we had a chance of winning was testament to his quality.’’