If you’re a batting nut, there was certainly plenty to cheer about in the BLACKCAPS’ opening #ZIMvNZ One-Day International in Harare on Sunday.
Powerhouse Ross Taylor’s record-equalling century and Kane Williamson’s typically calm and composed 97 added up to their 10th century partnership together at this level, and it helped paste a decent 300-plus total on the board despite being sent in.
Ross and Kane are surely the most dependable batting combo around in international cricket at the moment, given the ability they’re each showing at machining out the runs on a consistent basis.
While fans were stunned to see him dismissed on 97 again, the upside was it was Kane’s fifth score in the 90s since December, his fifth consecutive ODI score of fifty or better, and he narrowly missed becoming the first BLACKCAPS batsman to hit four centuries in a year!
Hey, there’s plenty of space left on that calendar yet. In the meantime, he’s now already broken Roger Twose's New Zealand record for the most runs in a year, surpassing Roger’s mark of 1067 from the year 2000.
Kane has 1134 runs for 2015 after the opening ODI in Harare and, when he reached 71, Ross joined them in the same elite 1000-ODI-runs-in-a-year club. Martin Guptill, meanwhile, needs just nine more runs to reach the mark. And it’s still only August!
Ross took home a pretty big record of his own in the opening ODI as he drew level with Nathan Astle with his 27th century for the BLACKCAPS across all the forms of the game. That’s a lot of Pūkana from Ross.
Conditions of a Zimbabwe winter morning clearly are quite challenging, but whilst the team was pleased to get through that tough little period and press on, ultimately things went perfectly to plan for Zimbabwe who took a last-over win. The in-form hosts took full advantage of their afternoon conditions, unintentionally assisted by a fresh-look BLACKCAPS attack that wasn’t at its sharpest in the first game.
Captain for this tour, Kane says Zimbabwe deserves respect for a fine win.
“It was a shame for us to lose the first one, sure. But Zimbabwe played very well. They are certainly a force in their home conditions, particularly. To chase down 300 on any surface is a really good effort, and Craig Ervine’s hundred was the difference. It was a great knock that saw them home.”
The Kiwi camp is far from panicking about Zimbabwe taking an early lead in the short Series.
“It’s always a fine line in One-Day cricket. You know, there were still a lot of positives to come out of the first game, and there were a few things we want to look at and correct going into the next one. That’s our approach looking towards tonight.
“It was pleasing for us to get the 300 on the board, a good effort I thought — off the back of Ross’ outstanding hundred. But we missed a little with the ball. We need to execute better.”
As for the batting order, typically for Kane he’s not going to take a 300-plus total as any sign that the batsmen can rest on their laurels. The side finished explosively with Grant Elliott picking up quick runs, but needed to establish early momentum and carry that through.
“Yeah, there were parts of our innings we also want to address. Obviously when you lose, there are a few more things that are highlighted! But whether you win or lose, that’s always the focus for us, regardless — trying to improve on our every performance.
"Zimbabwe are playing very good cricket at the moment so it’s important we’re at our best going into the last few games.”
#ZIMvNZ ODI 2 begins at 7pm New Zealand time tonight (Tuesday) and is LIVE on SKY Sport from 6.50pm.
