Rain washes away ODI
Martin Guptill’s diligence paid off with an innings of 66 from 78
balls as part of New Zealand’s 145 for three in 28.5 overs in the
abandoned third one-day international against Sri Lanka.
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Sri Lanka skipper Angelo Mathews took all three wickets that
fell in the rain hit 3rd ODI at Auckland. |
Regular rain saw the match fail to get into a second innings.
An hour and a half before the start Guptill was busy in the practice
nets adjacent to Sandringham Rd. The throwdowns came relentlessly from
coach Mike Hesson (around the wicket) and batting mentor Craig McMillan
(over the wicket) as he sought to arrest his blip in international form.
Guptill has also been working with batting great Martin Crowe to
perfect his technique and mental tenacity.
However, the opener hasn’t had a higher score in 10 ODI innings since
his 111 at the same venue a year ago.
Such problems haven’t dogged him domestically. He’s scored two
centuries and a 55 in his last four Ford Trophy innings.
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New Zealand opener Martin Guptill top scored for his team
with an unbeaten 66. |
However, like Hamish Rutherford in the test format, the selectors
have persevered. Guptill has the added security of being in the World
Cup squad. That guarantees him a maximum of six further ODI innings and
a couple of warm-ups before the tournament start.
It’s hoped persistence will eventually deliver Guptill more 2013
Southampton moments of zen, like when he made New Zealand’s highest
one-day score - 189 not out - against England, an innings in which his
bat behaved like a magic wand.
Unfortunately the weather did its best to disrupt his rhythm, in
addition to the efforts of the Sri Lankan bowlers who had him chopping
two French cuts and a return chip in the early stanzas.
Guptill’s resurrection may have been helped, in a peculiar way, by
the premature dismissal of Brendon McCullum for 28 off 22 balls. It
meant he was not subject to peer pressure to take advantage of the short
boundaries like his skipper.
McCullum fell to a steepling catch from Nuwan Kulasekara off Angelo
Mathews, much to the chagrin of dozens of orange T-shirted fans looking
to benefit with one-handed catches from the latest Tui beer promotion.
They swarmed to prime posts 20m beyond long-on and long-off. Mathews
also bowled Tom Latham for 42 and had Ross Taylor lbw for three to
finish with three for 21 from 6.5 overs. The groundsmen end up playing
the biggest cameos like a land-lubbing crew of America’s Cup sailors
wrestling the scrim and plastic covers into position as misty rain swept
in.
The seven-match series remains level at 1-1. (New Zealand Herald)
SCOREBOARD
New Zealand innings
Martin Guptill not out 66
Brendon McCullum c Kulasekara b Mathews 28
Tom Latham b Mathews 42
Ross Taylor lbw b Mathews 03
Extras (lb 5, w 1) 06
TOTAL (3 wickets; 28.5 overs) 145
Fall of wickets: 1-40 (McCullum), 2-139 (Latham), 3-145 (Taylor).
Bowling: Nuwan Kulasekara 6-0-35-0
Dhammika Prasad 6-0-30-0
Angelo Mathews 6.5-2-21-3
Sachithra Senanayake 7-0-30-0
Thisara Perera 3-0-24-0 |
