Cricket: Three reasons why the Black Caps won

Herald on Sunday

12 Jun, 2015 09:45 PM2 mins to read

New Zealand's players celebrate the wicket of England's Adil Rashid during the one day international match at the Oval cricket ground in London. Photo / AP.

Andrew Alderson looks at three key reasons the Black Caps won the second ODI between New Zealand and England at the Oval.

1. New Zealand's partnerships

Not one dud: 61,53, 121, 72, 45, 46*. The 398 for five was merciless, their highest ODI total against a test-playing nation.

The ravenous appetite for runs was welcome after conceding 408 for nine at Birmingham.

Resources were the key. By establishing a base of 232 for two after 35 overs at a run rate of 6.62, they could afford to accelerate to 7.96 by the end.

2. Grant Elliott's catch of Eoin Morgan

This was the match's pivotal wicket, two balls into England's powerplay. Morgan looked to belt Mitchell McClenaghan over cover but miscued to the offside sweeper. Elliott's steady hands sealed the captain's fate. His 88 off 47 balls was effortless. He looked capable of going the distance.

Highly commended would be Mitchell Santner's second over. New Zealand needed wickets with England carving at will in the early stanzas.

Santner pitched up and Joe Root took the bait with the fourth ball of his second over. Nathan McCullum took the catch at mid-wicket. The batsmen crossed. Santner beat Alex Hales next ball. Hales followed by going after him. He mistimed and Trent Boult completed the dismissal at deep mid-wicket.

3. Meteorological assistance

Rain struck when England had the momentum at 345 for seven, needing 54 runs from 37 balls in front of a packed partisan crowd, generating scenes reminiscent of ODI cricket in its 1980s pomp.

New Zealand were nine runs in front when they left the field; England needed 34 runs from 13 balls when they returned.

They managed 20 and New Zealand took two catches, removing pivotal batsmen Liam Plunkett for 44 and Adil Rashid for 34. The latter came from a Tim Southee alley-oop to Trent Boult on the long on boundary to entertain the fans right until the end.

#Ford, the driving force behind the Black Caps

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