New Zealanders overcome illness and injuries to down resurgent England at Johannesburg
New Zealanders overcome illness and injuries to down resurgent England at Jo'burgNew Zealand's four-wicket win over resurgent England yesterday, which enabled them to qualify for the semi-final of the Champions Trophy, is all the more creditable when you consider that the Kiwis have been seriously affected by illnesses and injuries.
So acute was the problem that Kiwi skipper Daniel Vettori, who rued that his team was "down to the bare bones" had to summon opener Aaron Redmond from home.
As luck would have it, Redmond's flight was delayed at Brisbane by 12 hours, causing the Otago opener to miss the match, although the Kiwi management was in a state of readiness to rush Redmond straight to the Wanderers from the airport.
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New Zealand's Shane Bond celebrates the wicket of England's Owais Shah during the Champions Trophy match at Wanderers. PIC/AFP |
Redmond was called up on Sunday to replace Jesse Ryder, who pulled an abductor muscle during his hurricane 58-ball 76 against Sri Lanka.
The islanders gambled horribly by leaving out destructive champion spin bowler Muttiah Muralitharan and going into the match with an all-pace attack consisting of Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga and Thilan Thushara.
On a previous occasion, when summoned post haste from the Bolton League for the World Twenty20 tournament in England in June, also to replace Ryder, Redmond slammed 63 from just 30 balls against Ireland at Trent Bridge.
The New Zealanders (the Black Caps) have now won seven of their last 10 clashes against rejuvenated England, who were the first team to enter the semi-finals of this event after surprising, but well-deserved, victories over Sri Lanka and hosts South Africa.
Apart from leading to almost total loss of interest in the Champions Trophy here, England's 22-run win over South Africa has caused anguish and soul-searching.
After England's shock win, batsman Owais Shah, who top scored with 98 off 89 balls inclusive of six sixes, said: "I am happy with my game. I am in a good space. I am happy to be striking the ball in the middle of the bat and am pleased with the way the batting unit is firing as a whole. I play the way I think I should play."
Shah was dismissed for just three yesterday and the England team bowled out for a paltry 146, which confirmed the adage that in this unpredictable game, it's best to let one's actions do the talking.
Brief scores: England 146 (P Collingwood 40; Shane Bond 3-21, G Elliott 4-31)
lost to New Zealand 147/6 (B McCullum 48, M Guptill 53; S Broad 4-39).
