England vs New Zealand 2015: Black Caps shine for once with the ball, even if in vain
England vs New Zealand 2015: Black Caps shine for once with the ball, even if in vain
The fifth and final One-Day International (ODI) between England and New Zealand witnessed the Black Caps bowling unit being decisive for once, even if they could not help seal a victory for their side. Amit Banerjee analyses the performance of the bowling department that had misfired throughout the ODI series and came back to life in the series decider.
The five-match One-Day International (ODI) series between England and New Zealand has been one that has witnessed the batsmen running amok for the most part. Scores in the range of 300-400 were looked upon as ordinary during this series, with England chasing the 350-run target in the fourth game in the most spectacular fashion. READ: England clinch thrilling finale against New Zealand by three wickets to win series 3-2
While the flat tracks may have played their part in assisting the batsmen, the fault also lay with the bowling units, especially that of New Zealand. They were beaten hollow throughout the series, with none barring Trent Boult offering any fight whatsoever. The Black Caps were handed massive blow in the form of Boult’s exit from the tournament due to a back injury. Their lack of form reached its peak in the fourth game at Trent Bridge. Do You Know the ongoing Eng-NZ ODI series most prolific in terms of runs between the two sides?
However, Saturday was a different occasion. It was a day when the unit seemed to be getting everything right. For once, they did not bowl one loose delivery after another, bowling along an attacking line, enticing the batsmen to go for the risky strokes and perish. Skipper Brendon McCullum did Martin Crowe and introduced spinner Mitchell Santner early in the England innings to great effect. Such traits were last displayed by the Black Caps in the recently concluded ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. READ: Andrew Mathieson achieves rare feat in England vs New Zealand 5th ODI at Chester-le-Street
With Santner taking three quick wickets, Ben Wheeler and Andrew Mathieson taking a wicket each, England collapsed to an embarrassing score of 45 for five. England had faced such a crumble in the first Test when they were reduced to 30 for four. Nobody blinked back then, due to the perceptions and expectations surrounding the two teams. This time around, those perceptions had changed greatly, mainly due to the fighting spirit displayed by the ‘New England’.
The brilliance displayed by the New Zealand bowlers was limited only to about half of the England innings. Once Jonny Bairstow and Sam Billings got going, the bowlers fell back to their old problems. Grant Elliott, who bowled a tight final over during New Zealand’s narrow 13-run win in the third ODI, conceded 16 runs in a horror over.
Mathieson, who effected a dismissal off the very first ball of his ODI career, was expensive in the remainder of his spell as he conceded 40 runs off four overs. Tim Southee conceded 28 runs from four overs without taking a wicket. Santner had already completed his quota of six overs, leaving McCullum few options for the death overs. In the end, it was Bairstow’s day to reckon as he stole the show with a brilliant 60-ball 83, though he was dropped embarrassingly by Santner at a crucial stage of the match.
While the Black Caps’ bowlers have the one-off Twenty20 International (T20I) left to make amends, they can pat themselves for once for intimidating the rampant England batsmen during the ODI leg of the tour. The ODI series also helped discover the talent that is Santner, which will be a great takeaway for New Zealand in the days to come.
(Amit Banerjee, a reporter at CricketCountry, takes keen interest in photography, travelling, technology, automobiles, food and, of course, cricket. He can be followed on Twitter via his handle @akb287)