Tim Southee’s 7/33 cleans out England for 123 against New Zealand in ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 Pool A Match 9 at Wellington
Tim Southee's 7/33 cleans out England for 123 against New Zealand
Tim Southee was the proverbial cat among England’s pigeons, snapping up career-best seven for 33 with an inspired spell of swing bowling that revealed just how inadequate England’s batting could be against a quality opposition. Joe Root tried his best to keep the ship afloat, but New Zealand’s canons simply blew too many holes. LIVE SCORECARD: New Zealand vs England, Pool A Match 9 at Wellington
Ian Bell was the first to go, playing inside the line to one that swung out just enough to beat the edge and upset the timber. Moeen Ali went on the offensive ofter that, hitting Southee for three boundaries in row in the very same over. Southee soon had his revenge, first softening Moeen up with a short ball, and then sending down a searing yorker that swung late and took out the off stump. LIVE UPDATES: New Zealand vs England, Pool A Match 9 at Wellington
Meanwhile, Trent Boult kept going at the other end, giving nothing away to the Yorkshire pair of Gary Ballance and Joe Root. The pressure he maintained culminated in Ballance trying to hit his way out of trouble. Boult bowled a slower one that clung to the surface and did not come off the pitch; Ballance managed to get the toe end to diving Kane Williamson as England lost their third wicket. ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: POINTS TABLE
Eoin Morgan — on the back of two runs from five innings — then made his way to the middle. England’s skipper dug deep and put on a 47-run stand with Root for the fourth wicket. Just as England looked like they were setting themselves up, Daniel Vettori got him to hit one down the ground. Boult took superb catch, diving forward and holding on to a blinder. ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: SCHEDULE & MATCH DETAILS
That opened the floodgates, as Southee came back for what proved to be a game-changing second spell. James Taylor was the first to go, another late-swinging yorker upsetting the off stump. Jos Buttler went next, poking at one outside the off stump and getting the outside edge to Luke Ronchi. Chris Woakes got another swinging yorker, once again pegging back the off stump. Stuart Broad went for Hail Mary, swinging with all his might only to get a leading edge to Vettori. Southee’s seventh wicket came when Steven Finn edged to Ross Taylor at slip. Joe Root tried his best to revive the innings, but was the last man out for 45. ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: Complete Coverage
Brief scores:
England 123 in 33.2 overs (Joe Root 46; Tim Southee 7 for 33) vs New Zealand.
Full scorecard
(Shiamak Unwalla, a reporter with CricketCountry, is a self-confessed Sci-Fi geek and Cricket fanatic. You can follow him on Twitter @ShiamakUnwalla)