Wagner claims five wicket bag on day two

Posted Friday, 30 May, 2014 in Match Reports

Day two: BLACKCAPS 210-6 (BJ Watling 50, Luke Ronchi 41*, Peter Fulton 30) and 112-6 drew with a Jamaican XI 171-9 (Neil Wagner 5-38, Mark Craig 3-17)

Neil Wagner opened his tour of the West Indies with a five wicket bag on the second day of the drawn two day warm-up match against a Jamaican XI at Trelawny.

The Jamaican XI resumed on day two at 94-5, after the BLACKCAPS had declared at 112-6 at tea yesterday. Wagner was straight into his work with two early wickets, both clean bowled, and then the last of the day gave him his five wicket bag.

Leg spinner Ish Sodhi collected the only other wicket today as the home side declared at 171-9, 59 runs ahead of the BLACKCAPS first innings total.

Overall it was a good outing for the BLACKCAPS bowlers with off-spinner Mark Craig taking three wickets for 17 on the first day before he was rested today with a tight quadricep muscle.

With the bat in the second innings, BJ Watling had some solid time in the middle to top score with 50 as did Luke Ronchi (41 not out). BLACKCAPS captain Peter Fulton spent a good couple of hours at the wicket to reach 30, including two sixes. New Zealand were 210-6 at stumps.

BLACKCAPS Head Coach Mike Hesson says the key objective for the match was ensuring the players who haven’t had much cricket recently got some time out in the middle.

On the spinning front, Craig was spot on with his first few overs on day one and deserved his trio of wickets, says Hesson.

“For the pace bowlers these slow wickets are in many ways even harder to create wicket-taking opportunities as the nicks simply don’t carry - you have to find other ways.”

“Neil kept charging in and he picked up some key wickets which will give him a lot of confidence.”

The BLACKCAPS next match is against a Jamaican XI in a three-day warm-up match in Trelawny starting on Monday.

Day one: BLACKCAPS 112-6 (Tom Latham 33, Ish Sodhi 22*, Luke Ronchi 21) Jamaican XI 94-5 (Mark Craig 3-17)

Off-spinner Mark Craig has grabbed three late wickets in his first appearance in the New Zealand strip in a two day warm-up match against a Jamaican XI at Trelawny.

The BLACKCAPS opened their tour of the West Indies with a tough day of batting struggling to 112-6 before declaring. There was some positive news later in the day as Craig made the best of the conditions – a pitch completely devoid of grass.

Earlier in the day New Zealand won the toss and keen to get in a few overs with the bat, BLACKCAPS captain Peter Fulton immediately chose to put his team in. The skipper might have regretted his decision soon after going caught behind without getting on the board. His fellow opener Hamish Rutherford looked to play a few nice strokes before going lbw on the unlucky number of 13. And just before rain brought the players in, BJ Watling was bowled for seven leaving the BLACKCAPS at 43-3.

Straight from the Indian Premier League, James Neesham was in next but went without scoring and the BLACKCAPS went to lunch at 53-4. Tom Latham was the next to go to a slightly dubious lbw call after looking promising on his way to 33, and Luke Ronchi fell soon after caught for 21. With the two spinners at the wicket, New Zealand declared at 112-6 with Ish Sodhi on 22* and Craig on 12*.

With the ball, Neil Wagner took two wickets and along with Craig’s three the Jamaican XI will resume tomorrow at 94-5.

New Zealand: Peter Fulton (c), Hamish Rutherford, Tom Latham, BJ Watling, Jimmy Neesham, Luke Ronchi, Ish Sodhi, Mark Craig (sat out day two due to quad tightness), Neil Wagner, Trent Boult, Myron Wilson and Dhane Johnson (local players).

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