Black Caps survive Scotland scare in the rain affected match

Jun.06, 2009 in New Zealand, Scotland

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The Black Caps have survived a spirited challenge from minnows Scotland to win their rain-affected ICC World Twenty20 opener by seven wickets at The Oval. A scintillating batting display from Scotland gave them every chance of replicating the Netherlands’ earlier heroics in toppling hosts England, only for the cool-headed Ross Taylor to steer the Black Caps home in a tight run chase. Scotland’s total of 89/4 looked almost insurmountable, but three no-balls at crucial junctures helped New Zealand avoid an embarrassing upset. Under grey skies in London, play was delayed for over two hours due to bad weather and when it did clear, it was announced that just seven overs per side were possible, effectively reducing the match to a virtual lottery. And the Scots could scarcely believe their good fortune when captain Brendon McCullum, standing in for the injured Daniel Vettori, won the toss and opted to bowl first. In a game as farcically brief as this one, the smart option would surely have been to bat first and put scoreboard pressure on their unheralded opponents. Instead, Scotland were sent in on a good batting track and duly cashed in. New Zealand’s bowlers were wayward both in line and length. Eighteen runs came off the first over, bowled by Iain O’Brien, and a further 12 came off James Franklin’s following over with opener Ryan Watson blasting six fours. He departed to a skied catch off Ian Butler for a brutal 27 in the third over, and a tidy fourth over from Jacob Oram halted Scottish progress. But opener Navdeep Poonia and Kyle Koetzer reignited the innings, taking to medium pacer Jesse Ryder as they raced to a 50 partnership in 22 balls. Butler, the only Black Cap to exert any control over the Scottish batsmen, returned claim two wickets off the final three balls of the innings as Scotland set the Black Caps 90 to win at almost 14 runs an over. “Good luck”, chirped English commentator David Lloyd with barely disguised glee. But his mirth was short-lived as the in-form McCullum smote four successive boundaries through the off side to take 19 off the Black Caps’ first over. It was Ryder’s turn to unleash in the third over, effortlessly lifting paceman Craig Wright into the midwicket stands before smacking consecutive off-drives either side of the despairing long-off fielder, then backing away to leg to loft an off-drive for six. When he perished for 31 off the 17th ball of the innings, the Black Caps were already 51/1. The inexperienced Scots were looking ragged, but Brendon McCullum threw them a lifeline when a ludicrous misunderstanding between himself and new batsman Ross Taylor led to the skipper being run out off a dropped catch for 18. With 26 runs needed off the final three overs the Black Caps were in the box seat, and they must’ve felt luck was on their side when Gordon Drummond not only dropped an easy skied catch off Jacob Oram, but accidentally kicked it over the rope for good measure. Oram perished next ball and just four runs came off the fifth over, bowled by the impressive Watson, leaving New Zealand needing 22 off 12. But if Ross Taylor was nervous he did not show it, smiting consecutive sixes to cow corner off medium-pacer Jan Stander to swing the game decisively New Zealand’s way, before Scott Styris cracked Stander for another six over long-on to seal the win with an over to spare. Even though the Black Caps will be better off for having had a serious hit-out against the Scots, their bowlers have little time to improve their accuracy ahead of Wednesday’s match against South Africa. “Our bowlers didn’t respond the way they wanted to and that’s something we’ve got to look to rectify in the couple of days”, said a relieved McCullum. The win virtually assures the Black Caps of a place in the Super Eights phase, while victory over the Proteas in their other group match would provide an invaluable confidence boost going into the knockout stages.

Scorecard

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