Matthew Appleby
|
Tour match: Canterbury v Zimbabweans at Christchurch, 21-23 Dec 2000 Matthew Appleby |
|
|
Zimbabweans 1st innings:
Canterbury 2nd innings: Zimbabweans 2nd innings: |
The tourist fixture at Jade Stadium ended with multiple injuries and illnesses in the Zimbabwean team, and few positives to report.
Guy Whittall and Gavin Rennie added just 16 runs in 16 overs in the first hour of their second innings. Both offered chances from the bowling of the impressive Wade Cornelius.
However, Gary Stead dropped Whittall on one, while Hamish Barton spilled a chance at point, from Rennie, two overs later, in the fourth of the innings.
After the chances, both teams realised no result would come and Zimbabwe shut up shop.
More bad news came from the hospital, as Dirk Viljoen's x-ray revealed a broken knuckle. Both he and Grant Flower will miss the test on Boxing Day in Wellington.
Whittall and Rennie fell to the spinners shortly before the close, when everyone was more interested in the Women's World Cup Final. This, of course, ended in a New Zealand win, 20 kms from Jade Stadium at Lincoln.
This meant the much talked about pre-test batting practice for Nathan Astle, padded up to bat at number three, never happened.
Inexperienced duo, Robbie Frew, a draughtsman, and Zimbabwe specialist Harley James, both cracked fifties as Canterbury declared on 122/0 after 36 overs.
Gary Stead, Canterbury captain, was keen to "give our guys a bit of a go" in order to force an optimistic result.
Shane Bond, in particular, would have impressed any selectors had they been here, rather than at the Women's World Cup FInal at nearby Lincoln.
James hit eleven fours in his unbeaten 65, while Frew freed up to drive and cut seven boundaries in his 53 not out.
The half century took James' average against Zimbabwe to 72.50. He has yet to play a first-class game against anyone else.
Frew made 53 for the second time this season, putting his name to the fore for Canterbury's forthcoming eleven day tour around New Zealand beginning in Alexandra on December 27th. They play Otago there in the Shell Cup, a match they must win to keep their interest in the competition.
A much depleted Zimbabwe eleven, with four players ill and two injured, will hope for some quiet batting practice after the break. However, against a fired up Bond, and newcomer Wade Cornelius, they are unlikely to get it.
Ironically, his brother Andy arrived from Zimbabwe to begin his tour on the same day Grant's tour ended. Andy has been given time off to be with his pregnant wife. He later deputised for his brother, unusually being allowed to play at wicketkeeper, after Zimbabwe were dismissed for just 150, leaving them a massive 180 runs behind after their first innings.
Zimbabwe capituated in the morning session, losing five wickets for 38 runs, three to Shane Bond and two to debutant Wade Cornelius. Grant Flower, of course, could not bat. They lasted just 48 minutes and eleven and a half overs, with Frew and James seeing Canterbury through to lunch at 8/0, after Canterbury opted for batting practice rather than enforcing the follow on.
Canterbury coach Garry MacDonald said " I haven't seen anyone bowl faster than Bond this year in New Zealand." He hoped to bat out the afternoon and was predictably delighted with his teams efforts. Both Bond (5-51) and Cornelius(3-31) had career bast returns.
Rain disrupted the morning session, but poor shots ruined the tourists' last chance of batting practice before the Boxing Day test at Wellington.
The only tourist to make a good impression was Douglas Marillier, who made his international debut against New Zealand this summer, making the runs, a cut to the building site where the old embankment was at Jade Stadium.
His good form means he is favourite to replace Grant Flower on Tuesday. It would be the 22 year old's test debut. He may open the batting. The Harare born tall right hander was the find of the recent tour by New Zealand. He has now played eight one day internationals, although has yet to make a fifty.
Seasons in the Birmingham League in England, where he set runscoring records in successive years (1998 and 1999), as well as a stint in the Australian Cricket Academy in Adelaide have tightened his technique considerably.
As a former Zimbabwe under 18 captain, his authoritative air makes him a strong possibility to be future Zimbabwe captain.
Other than this one bright prospect, Zimbabwean injuries, a flu epidemic (Bryan Strang has been unable to bowl since Thursday, due to illness) and poor form have added up to make the Black Caps hot favourites for the forthcoming test.
Gavin Rennie had fallen into the trap, holing out to Gary Stead off Aaron Redmond. One run later Dirk Viljoen edged Wade Cornelius to the keeper to give the personable paceman his maiden first-class wicket. Grant Flower was missing from the action, having fractured a finger. He did not return to the ground from hospital.
This left Mluleki Nkala to try and get some batting practice where Guy Whittall, Trevor Madondo and Rennie and Viljoen had missed out.
Although starting unconvincingly, he ground out the last hour and a half with Marillier to leave Zimbabwe without further loss at stumps.
Marillier was the most impressive Zimbabwean by far, standing very upright and being particularly punishing with Redmond's flighted legspinners.
Nathan Astle's bad day was summed up when a full toss he bowled was driven to the ropes by Marillier to bring up the Zimbabwe 100. Stead almost finished his contrasting dream day with a wicket, narrowly missing Nkala's off stump when he put himself on for the last over.
Zimbabwe will be concerned that Flower looks doubtful for the Boxing Day test and that their top order players have missed the practice they came to Jade Stadium for.
Gary Stead and Gareth Hopkins added 135 altogether, 72 coming in just 48 minutes after lunch.
In addition to having to spend over a day and a half in the field, Zimbawe had a test scare as Grant Flower had to go to hospital with a bad finger injury.
Stead and Hopkins had by then fully compensated for Nathan Astle's early dismissal in the morning. Stead declared as soon as he and his partner reached their milestones, giving Stead an average of 92 so far this season.
When Andy Whittall opened with new partner Gavin Rennie, deputising for Flower, they were troubled by Shane Bond's pace and Wade Cornelius' accuracy.
Debutant Cornelius had Rennie dropped at second slip by the unfortunate Astle, in just the 5th over.
Captain Whittall went in the next over, Harley James showing Astle how to do it, taking an edge from Bond's bowling at first slip.
Wicket-keeper Trevor Madondo looked far less impressive than on Saturday's one dayer, and quickly drove Bond to Aaron Redmond at gully, scoring just 2, before his dismissal.
Whittall, however took to Redmond's leg spin, and he and Douglas Marillier batted Zimbabwe comfortably to tea.
Canterbury added 73 to the overnight score in 28 overs, going to lunch at 258 for five.
At a damp Jade Stadium, squelchy from overnight thunderstorms, Astle disappointed, falling in the third over, nicking a flat footed cut to keeper Madondo. He cracked eight off Henry Olonga's first over as the pitch looked slower than on the first day. However, against the erratic pace of Zimbabwe's strike bowler Olonga, the New Zealand number five failed to ready himself for the Boxing Day test against the same opposition, at Wellington.
Astle, asked to play by Sir Richard Hadlee and co, didn't help out the selectors by finding his touch and foot movement after a disappointing series against South Africa. Stead, unwanted by his country, provided characteristically steady support, adding 63 with keeper Gareth Hopkins for the 6th wicket after Astle had gone.
Stead progressed from his overnight 13 to 54 not out, including six cut or driven boundaries. It brought his first-class season aggregate up to 322 runs at 80.50. He reached the half century in 128 minutes and 104 balls, quick going in the context of the game. Perhaps Stead for Astle could be the call for the summer's other tests against Pakistan in March.
The only other alarm for Canterbury was one in the offices at Jade, which went off for a stadium record 18 minutes during the sparsely attended session.
© CricInfo
Date-stamped : 23 Dec2000 - 18:24