‘Superb’ Guptill drives for test spot
Martin Guptill hit 150 and spinner Mark Craig took four wickets as New Zealand completed a tight win over Worcestershire in their test warmup match in England.
With the first test starting at Lord’s at the end of the week, the Black Caps held their nerve to snatch a 15-run win at Taunton early on Monday (NZ time).
Guptill was in fine form on the final day of the four-day match, taking his overnight score from 61 through to 150.
There were 15 fours and three sixes in his 41⁄ hours at the crease.
The innings will surely have cemented Guptill’s return to the test scene.
His score stuck out as Ross Taylor (29) and Matt Henry (30) were the only others to make any runs, with New Zealand declaring their second innings at 291-7 off 91 overs.
That left Worcester chasing 246 for victory and they were dismissed for 230.
Worcester were cruising nicely at 208-4 but lost their last six wickets for 32 runs as Craig and Henry orchestrated a collapse. Off-spinner Craig finished with 4-56 from 12 overs while fast bowler Henry returned 3-58.
Doug Bracewell chimed in with 2-46 and Neil Wagner collected a wicket as well.
Craig, who was impressive in New Zealand’s 66-run win over Somerset in the opening tour match, has settled in as the premier spinner.
Black Caps coach Mike Hesson was delighted with Guptill’s effort. ‘‘Martin played superbly. ‘‘I think his tempo throughout the whole innings was exactly what you want to see from an opener,’’ Hesson said, adding that Guptill was putting on pressure for a test recall. ‘‘He’s done exactly what you want from a player who hasn’t played the last test. He fought hard to get back into the squad, he missed the first warmup game and he’s put in a pretty decisive performance today.
‘‘He will certainly be strong consideration.’’
Hesson felt the other New
in Zealand batsmen showed promise. He was more happy with the overall performance, particularly the ability of his team to get out of another tight situation.
That is becoming something of a trademark of New Zealand teams under Hesson’s rule.
‘‘We wanted to put ourselves under pressure in terms of setting up the game and Worcester bought into that as well. Our first hour with the ball was pretty disappointing but the way we fought back was the characteristic we have shown over the last period of time.’’
Hesson said there would need to be more consistency from his bowling attack in their tangles with England.
‘‘I think first session yesterday and last today [were good] . . . otherwise a bit scratchy.’’ Hesson was guarded about his options for the first test as he looks to get his returning Indian Premier League stars into red ball mode as they join the squad over the next day.
He said his test team was ‘‘clearer in some areas’’ after the effort against Worcester.
He admitted he had a tough choice for the third seamer role behind Tim Southee and Trent Boult and the Lord’s wicket would be a key factor.
He was hopeful Corey Anderson would be fit to take the all-rounder’s role.