Kiwis, Aussies entertain in awesome T20 Print E-mail
Category: Match Reports
Written by Luke Tagg   
Sunday, 28 February 2010 22:05
I've watched Tim Southee on and off since he took 5/55 against England on his Test debut for New Zealand in 2008 and to be honest, I haven't exactly been blown away by him.

He's been a useful bowler for New Zealand since then, but not special. Nothing set him apart from any other given medium-pace seamer. Until today.

I taped the second T20 international between New Zealand and Australia in Christchurch this morning (it began at 07h00 and I don't do 07h00), sensing it could be a good game. The Aussies won the first game comfortably but I had the sense the Kiwis were going to come out fighting.

I ended up watching one of the best T20 internationals ever and bonus! - I got to fast forward through the drinks breaks.

I've watched a lot of cricket played in New Zealand but I have never seen a crowd like that. The atmosphere generated by 26,143 spectators in the tiny stadium was phenomenal, and so unlike the usually reserved crowds I'm used to seeing.

It was an astonishing game for a number of reasons: Brendon McCullum scored only the second international T20 century, New Zealand's massive score of 214 was equalled by Australia and the Super Over was bowled by a nerveless Southee in a quite superb display of death bowling.

Southee's match figures (excluding the Super Over) of 0/44 off 4 overs proves how highlights packages and stats never tell the full story. They don't come close.

He went for 27 runs in his first two overs but came back in spectacular fashion at the very end of the innings to prevent Cameron White and Michael Clarke coasting to victory.

He conceded just 6 runs off the 18th over, which left Australia 30 to get off the final two. Jacob Oram bowled a shocker, conceding 18, and Southee only had 12 to defend in the final over.

If that seems like a lot, consider that Clarke (67 off 45) and White (64* off 26) were in full cry - confident of chasing down the total and looking increasingly as though they were going to do so. White in particular was simply sensational - classic, brute-strength bludgeoning.

In his last two overs Southee bowled 11 yorkers in 12 balls - I've never seen such accurate death bowling. He was under immense pressure as well, in particular when bowling to White, who was in devastating form.

Australia got the 11 runs to tie and White kept his pads on while Southee retained the ball for the Super Over. Six yorkers later and Australia had managed just 6/1, leaving New Zealand seven to win.

Shaun Tait was all over the place and Martin Guptill hit the winning boundary to reward McCullum and Southee for their brilliant work.

As good as Southee was at the death, watching Brendon McCullum score that century was the most fun I've had this year, Jaipur excluded. It wasn't just that he scored the second-highest T20 total (116* off 56 balls, one behind Chris Gayle's record against South Africa), but the way he dealt with the quality and aggression of the enemy.

McCullum's 158 to start the IPL in 2008 is still the highest individual first-class T20 score, but the quality of bowlers he was facing was nowhere near that of the dogs of cricket.

The Kiwis cowered in fear at the pace of Shaun Tait, Dirk Nannes and Mitchell Johnson in the first T20 but in this game they turned the strengths of those bowlers into weaknesses.

McCullum reinvented the ramp shot completely, turning 155 km/h yorkers from Tait into massive sixes behind the keeper. It was extraordinary to watch. If he'd missed one he'd be dead. Plain and simple.

He didn't miss one. I've never seen so many impossible shots go to the boundary in one innings. Dilshan wishes.

A brilliant game in a wonderful setting. The ODI series between these two sides looms as a pleasant distraction.

Scorecard
Share
Tags:
 

Add comment

Note: you can skip this entire process - including using the spam protecting Captcha image - by registering. The details of registered members are automatically filled in and there is no security image to deal with. Just a thought.

 


Security code
Refresh

Hot Right Now

Most Popular

Latest Entries

Latest Sledges

I Support

Random Quotes

However, while it's all very well replacing a bowler and getting back up to a full complement, you still have to take 20 wickets. Going through the motions will win you nothing but a date in the Headmaster's office, or Saturday morning detention.

From: South Africa vs England: 3rd Test Preview


Popular Taggs

Live Cricket Commentary

Live coverage of English cricket, from the Test Match Sofa.

Cricket Webring

Equator - a cricket webring

Prev

List

Next

hosted by The "Silly Point"

Feed Me Cricket link

Barmy Army

We have 126 guests online