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Glamorgan have announced an operating loss of £1.7m for 2011, with additional costs and interest bringing the deficit for the year to £3m

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Feb-2012Glamorgan have announced a deficit of £1.7m for 2011, with additional costs and interest bringing the club’s retained losses for the year to £3m. The results were significantly hit by the rain-affected England v Sri Lanka Test, hosted at the county’s Cardiff ground last season, which resulted in a loss of £1.2m.”Our 2011 results put into perspective the financial challenges the club has faced over the past few years,” chief executive Alan Hamer said. “The challenging economic environment and the burden of servicing the debts were compounded by the losses incurred in staging last year’s England v Sri Lanka Test match and further one-off charges. If you exclude these, the underlying performance of the business was comparable to the previous year.””Whilst last year’s financial results were extremely disappointing, the club’s financial future looks much improved and our accounts have been given a clean bill of health by our auditors.”Earlier this month, Glamorgan reorganised their loan repayments, as well as secured £1.3m in funding from a group of private investors. Despite being deprived of hosting a Test on West Indies’ tour this summer, Cardiff was awarded an Ashes Test for 2015. Glamorgan will stage 17 days of international cricket over the next five years, starting with an England ODI against South Africa in August.Chairman Barry O’Brien added: “Over the past 12 months, the club has had to deal with some significant challenges. Action has now been taken to address these and the other factors contributing to the losses incurred in 2011. The recent announcement confirming that the club had successfully restructured its finances will have a material beneficial impact on the club’s future financial performance. We can look forward to 2012 and beyond with renewed confidence.”

Nottinghamshire spinners Samit Patel and Graeme White shared six wickets on the
second day of their Championship Division One clash with Hampshire at the
Rose Bowl

21-Jul-2011
ScorecardNottinghamshire spinners Samit Patel and Graeme White shared six wickets on the
second day of their Championship Division One clash with Hampshire at the
Rose Bowl.Patel recorded figures of 4 for 43 as Nottinghamshire dismissed their hosts
for 213, Neil McKenzie the mainstay of the innings with an unbeaten 97. Three wickets from Chris Wood, who had earlier made 34, then left the visitors 35 for 3 at the close.After rain washed out the first day, Hampshire won the toss and elected to bat
in overcast conditions, but were soon made to regret their decision as a flurry
of early wickets fell.Liam Dawson was the first man to go, getting stuck on his crease to a delivery
from Charlie Shreck which kept slightly low and trapped him lbw for just six. Fellow opener Jimmy Adams, promoted into the captain’s role because of Dominic Cork’s unexpected absence, was the next wicket to fall, bowled off his pads by former England quick Darren Pattinson for seven to leave Hampshire 13 for 2.Michael Carberry went for four, edging Pattinson behind to give Chris Read a
regulation catch as his side slipped into real trouble at 26 for 3. McKenzie and James Vince temporarily steadied the ship, with Vince the fortunate beneficiary of two dropped catches.But as Hampshire nudged past 50, Vince finally fell, looping a catch to
Pattinson off the bowling of Patel. Sean Ervine was next up, but after battling for 44 balls, the former Zimbabwe Test player was dismissed for 14, edging left-arm spinner White to slip to leave the hosts 86 for 5 at the lunch break.The impressive and resilient McKenzie brought up his 50 and Hampshire’s 100
with a nicely-timed drive after lunch, before combining in a 51-run partnership
with wicket-keeper Michael Bates.But medium-pacer Steven Mullaney struck with the last ball of his first over,
dismissing Bates for 24. A brief shower brought about an early tea before some big hitting from Wood saw him and the McKenzie rack up a half-century partnership.But after two big sixes had advanced the youngster to 34 – just one run short
of matching his highest first-class score – Wood fell to a sharp slip catch by
Adam Voges off the bowling of Patel.McKenzie looked to be moving towards his second Championship century of the
season, but was left stranded on 97 after Danny Briggs and Imran Tahir fell to
Patel in quick succession and David Griffiths was dismissed by White.Nottinghamshire were soon in trouble themselves at the start of their reply,
Wood removing opener Neil Edwards (eight) and dangerman Alex Hales (two) in just
his second over.And he secured Hampshire’s first bowling point with his third wicket in a
devastating opening burst, bowling Rikki Wessels for seven to leave
Nottinghamshire struggling.

A round-up of the first round of matches in the Ford Trophy 2011-12

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Nov-2011The first round of matches in the Ford Trophy 2011-12, New Zealand’s domestic 50-over competition, saw convincing wins for Otago, Auckland and Canterbury.

Otago beat Northern Districts by 111 runs at the University Oval in Dunedin. Craig Cumming was their star with the bat, scoring 123 off 115 balls to help Otago reach a total of 295 for 6 after choosing to bat. Cumming’s innings was supported by useful contributions from 20-year-old Michael Bracewell, who scored 41, and Nathan McCullum, who got 56. Northern Districts’ Bradley Scott was particularly expensive, going for 71 runs in his 10 overs.Northern Districts’ chase was derailed early by seamer Ian Butler, whose two strikes left Northern Districts 29 for 3. James Marshall attempted a recovery and scored 72, but wickets fell in the middle overs, then the tail collapsed and Northern Districts were bowled out for 184 in 39 overs. Butler finished with 5 for 33 while Nathan McCullum picked up three wickets.

Auckland‘s middle and lower order took them out of trouble before Andre Adams combined with the spinners to bowl Wellington out for 177 and deliver a 72-run victory at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln. Auckland chose to bat but were 53 for 4 after losing three wickets in the space of four balls: two to fast bowler Scott Kuggeleijn and one to James Franklin. Anaru Kitchen and Colin de Grandhomme put on 56 for the fifth wicket but then fell in quick succession. Auckland’s lower order, though, ensured they posted a competitive total. Kyle Mills scored 27, Andre Adams got 33 off 27 balls and Ronnie Hira top-scored with 48 off 39 to take Auckland to 249 all out in 49.4 overs.Wellington’s chase got off to a solid stand thanks to Michael Papps’ half-century but wickets started to tumble once Adams and the spinners came into the attack. Adams finished with 5 for 29, spinners Hira and Bhupinder Singh took two wickets each and Wellington were bowled out for 177.

Four wickets from seamer Matt Henry scuppered Central Districts’ chase and gave Canterbury victory by 66 runs at the Mainpower Oval in Rangiora. Central Districts were in the game at 144 for 2 in the 30th over, chasing 268, and Ben Smith and Mathew Sinclair on half-centuries. Sinclair fell to legspinner Todd Astle and Henry then took two quick wickets to derail the chase. Central Districts ended up being bowled out for 202 and Henry finished with 4 for 25.Canterbury’s total had been built around half-centuries from George Worker, Tom Latham and Henry Nicholls. They elected to bat and lost two wickets within the first three overs before Worker and Latham’s 95-run partnership bailed them out of trouble. Worker was dismissed for 50 but Nicholls came in and formed another important partnership with Latham. Nicholls batted on after Latham was dismissed for 78 and finished with 74 not out.

The matches had been scheduled for early August but were always doubtful

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Jun-2020Zimbabwe’s three-match ODI tour of Australia in early August has been postponed due to the ongoing impact of Covid-19.Although the series, which was set to be played in northern Australia, had been included in the schedule put out last month it was always unlikely it would take place.A range of issues have prevented the games from being played including the short length of the series, the significant bio-security measures that would need to be implemented prior to August, and concern for the health and safety of players, match officials, and volunteers.Speaking earlier this month Justin Langer indicated the matches were not on his radar when he spoke about getting the players ready for a potential return to action in September with the possibility of a rescheduled limited-overs tour to England.The matches were due to be played on August 9, 12, and 15 although only the third game had a venue confirmed with Townsville. It is the first full home series Australia have lost due to Covid-19 although the final two ODIs against New Zealand in March were cancelled after the opening game of the series was played behind closed doors at the SCG. Their Test tour to Bangladesh in June was also postponed.Outside of the 2015 World Cup it would have been Zimbabwe’s first visit to Australia since taking part in a tri-series in 2004 and Cricket Australia said they were committed to finding a future slot for the matches. Since Covid-19 struck, Zimbabwe have also lost series against Ireland, Afghanistan and India.”While we are disappointed to postpone the series, CA and ZC agree that in the best interest of players, match officials, volunteers as well as our fans, that this is the most practical and sensible decision,” CA’s interim chief executive Nick Hockley said. “We are committed to working with Zimbabwe Cricket on alternative dates to reschedule.”Acting Zimbabwe Cricket Managing Director, Givemore Makoni, said: “We were excited about facing Australia but, given the circumstances, deferring the tour was the only option. We are, however, looking forward to the rescheduling of the series as soon as practically possible.”There are ongoing discussions between CA and the ECB about Australia travelling in September for the ODI and T20I matches that were originally scheduled for July. The next scheduled home cricket for the men’s team is two T20I series against West Indies and India in early October although they are also likely to be moved if, as expected, the T20 World Cup is postponed.

Leicestershire’s early inroads thwarted as match takes place at Worcester’s New Road

ECB Reporters Network01-Aug-2020Lancashire 265 for 6 (Vilas 90, Croft 63) v Leicestershire A fifth wicket partnership of 130 between Dane Vilas and Steven Croft helped Lancashire recover after being reduced to 97 for 4 shortly after lunch on the opening day of their Bob Willis Trophy match against Leicestershire at Blackfinch New Road.Captain Vilas led the way for Lancashire, hitting 14 fours in going to 90 off 126 deliveries before edging a drive off the bowling of Tom Taylor to slip, where Hassan Azad hung on to the chance. It was redemption of sorts for Azad, who failed to pick up an earlier chance given by Vilas off the same bowler when he scored just 28.The morning had seen Leicestershire make Lancashire’s batsmen work hard for their runs after Vilas had won the toss and chosen to bat.Both sides fielded debutants. Batsman Ben Slater, signed on two weeks’ loan from Nottinghamshire, made his first start for the Foxes, while all-rounder George Balderson and bowlers Tom Hartley and Ed Moulton made their first start for Lancashire – the first time Lancashire had given three men a debut in the same match since 2002.Taylor made an early breakthrough, trapping opener Keaton Jennings leg before wicket with a full delivery that swung back in to the left-hander.Alex Davies and Josh Bohannon put together a partnership of 39 for the second wicket before Davies, who had hit five boundaries in moving on to 21, mistimed a pull at a sharp delivery from left-arm seamer Dieter Klein. The ball looped towards midwicket where George Rhodes took a fine low catch two-handed to his right.Klein then bowled Rob Jones with a quick yorker that swung back in to hit the right-hander’s off-stump, and then had Bohannon caught down the leg-side by wicket-keeper Harry Swindells, gloving an attempted pull at a short ball after playing impressively in going to 44.Lancashire looked to be in trouble, but Vilas led the fightback in typically belligerent style. The experienced Croft played the ideal supporting innings, but having reached his own half-century, was surprisingly dismissed shortly before the close when he went back to a delivery from off-spinner Colin Ackermann and was given out leg before wicket.Before the game started, everyone on the ground participated in a minute’s applause to pay tribute to those affected by the Covid pandemic. The players also took a knee to emphasise their support for the Black Lives Matter movement.

Dance anthems blared, Mojito glasses clinked and complimentary KFC was in garishly plentiful supply as Australian cricket grasped for a semblance of edginess at the BBL launch

Daniel Brettig28-Jul-2011Dance anthems blared, Mojito glasses clinked and complimentary KFC was in plentiful supply as Australian cricket grasped for a semblance of edginess at the launch of the Twenty20 Big Bash League.Held at Carriageworks, a venue in Sydney’s inner west that is more synonymous with hip-hop festivals and art exhibitions, the event brought together a vast array of cricketers, sponsors, media and various other hangers-on.Some mixed better than others, as the old world tried to seek relevance and context in the new. Like the competition it launched, the night was an effort to broaden cricket, something achieved in a sartorial sense at least by the stipulation that no ties were to be worn by any of the male guests.Amid the mess, noise and a humdrum DJ set by a minor Australian celebrity, Erin McNaught, there was room for pondering about what it all meant. Cricket Australia are relentlessly hopeful about building the game’s audience and revenue streams, while the newly-anointed captains did their bit by attempting to manufacture on-stage rivalries between teams that are underpinned by market research rather than history.The absence of the Australian Test captain, Michael Clarke, told another story. Clarke has decided that he cannot take part in the BBL if he wants to devote his full attention to international cricket, a view shared by another absentee, Mitchell Johnson. One of Australia’s pace bowling hopes for the forthcoming Test match schedule is Trent Copeland, but he is on an underwhelming salary due to his lack of suitability for the highly limited tactical manoeuvres of T20.One of the wiser voices in the room was that of Marcus North, the former Australian batsman and West Australian captain, who can now add the leadership of the Perth Scorchers to his CV. He expresses no great love for T20 as a batsman, saying “I’m not one of those players who is going to be attracted to playing T20 cricket around the world, that’s probably not my style of the game”. But North is enthusiastic about the chance to attract new followers, and to potentially build club culture in a game whose loyalties have always been international and provincial in nature.”I think you’ll still get your cricket purists, but you get a completely different audience on top of that as well,” North told ESPNcricinfo. “We see families, people who’ve never really come to watch cricket or be interested in cricket, but love to be there and enjoy the occasion, enjoy the atmosphere.”You don’t have to go to a T20 game and have to watch every ball, you’re there with your friends, enjoying the occasion, enjoying the spectacle of being with friends and a great atmosphere with a full stadium. So it really broadens the viewers that watch this format of the game. I think it’s developed over the last few years, we’ve seen how successful it has been in India, and it’s been a bit of a success in Australia already. I think this takes it to a new level and will put T20 on the map in Australian cricket.”The map North speaks of is now dotted with domestic competitions and matches across three formats, seemingly diluting what was once a helpfully uncluttered pathway from grade cricket to Test matches via the Sheffield Shield battles between the states. Thinking over the question of what this will do to twist the ambitions of young players, North cannot be sure that ensuing generations will still find the prospect of a Test cap quite so alluring as that of a fat cheque.”It’s a good question,” North said. “It’s a learning curve, a bit of unknown what we’re dealing with at the moment, it has been quite public that it’s a little controversial the way the contract system has worked this year for domestic players. It has been talked about but it is a learning curve, this is a new competition, it’s influenced the way contracts are dealt with.”I feel if you do go speak to a lot of the cricketers around Australia, playing Test cricket and wearing the baggy green is still very, very high on their list. But it’s a hard one to answer, because I grew up in a different era to what the young guys are growing up in now. It is hard for me to comprehend striving to play for your state and not having that ultimate ambition to represent your country.”Whether that is going to influence players, the way this T20 revolution around the world is, the amount of money that’s being thrown, whether that’s going to influence the way the younger generation are going to look at representing Test cricket being their ultimate priority, is a question to ask the young guys. I certainly hope not, but hopefully there’s a balance, and the tradition and history of representing Australia with the baggy green continues to live strong.”A note of optimism can be found in the story of Dave Warner, whose emergence in 2011 as a batsman of Test match potential has illustrated that international cricket can still provide the most powerful attraction for a cricketer rolling around in T20 cash. It is a point of welcome irony that Warner has been the poster-boy for Mike McKenna, CA’s head of marketing and the BBL project owner, as an exemplar of the sort of player who can use T20 to become a star.Warner has now turned the concept around by allying the attention he gained through T20 with his own drive and ambition to play Test cricket. After belatedly breaking into the New South Wales Shield XI, Warner has been eye-catching for Australia A, helped by one of Greg Chappell’s more astute selection observations. This means McKenna may yet lose his most marketable name to the fuddy duddy old game played by men clad in white, as it competes with the BBL during the December-January holiday period.”He was the first player to go against the grain, but give credit to Dave that he’s had that perception to break, and perception is a hard thing to change, and he’s had to do that over the last couple of years,” North said. “He’s always been quite open and honest about wanting to play first-class cricket for NSW and to play for Australia and wear the baggy green.”It’s taken him a while but he’s starting to put the performances together. We saw how well he did perform in first-class cricket last year for NSW, and he’s been arguably the batter of the tour on the Australia A tour of Zimbabwe, so he’s making the right noises and putting his foot forward. That’s credit to Dave Warner, it isn’t easy to break perception and he’s put the work in that’s needed to adjust his game to make him able to play first-class cricket. So he’s an example of the new generation that’s been pretty focused on T20 but he’s been able to adapt his game.”Warner’s evolution, and the emergence of the spin bowler Nathan Lyon, has shown that T20 can add to the pool of Australian Test cricketers as much as it takes away. This much was cause for optimism, even as the 9pm closure of the Carriageworks bar reminded all present that CA are gambling on the BBL with a dwindling supply of chips.

Robbie Frylinck, the Lions allrounder, has been reprimanded after testing positive for a drug found in a slimming tablet

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Mar-2011Robbie Frylinck , the Lions allrounder, has been reprimanded after testing positive for a drug found in a slimming tablet during a random test following a domestic match in South Africa.Frylinck, 26, had a disciplinary hearing on March 28 where it was revealed he had been given clearance from the Lions’ medical team before taking the tablet. He pleaded guilty to the positive test which showed sibutramine – used to aid slimming – but because of the advice he was given by team staff he was only handed a reprimand rather than a more severe punishment.”Although Robbie followed the team protocol before taking the tablets this case illustrates the risks when players take unregulated supplements,” Tony Irish, the CEO of the South African Cricketers’ Association, said: “In cricket, as in all sports, we support anti-doping measures and players need to constantly guard against the risks.”Frylinck is free to take up his Indian Premier League contract with Delhi Daredevils when the tournament starts in early April.

Batsman added 118 in 19.5 overs alongside James Bracey as Lions rack up mammoth first-innings total

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Feb-2020Dan Lawrence made 190 to put continue his stellar form and put England Lions into a commanding position on the second day of their tour match against a Cricket Australia XI in Hobart.Resuming on 103 not out overnight, Lawrence put his foot down on the second morning, adding 118 in just 19.5 overs for the sixth wicket alongside James Bracey, taking him to 190 before he was eventually dismissed by Jake Lehmann’s part-time spin. Lawrence has been the standout player across the tour, his innings in this game following scores of 50*, 35 and 41 as well as six wickets in the one-day leg of the tour.Bracey made 58 before becoming Brendan Doggett’s fourth victim, while Lewis Gregory put on 78 in 13.3 overs with Craig Overton before declaring at the fall of his wicket. The total of 613 for 8 declared was the second-highest in the history of England Lions and England A sides, behind only a score of 624 for 8 declared against South Africa A in 2015.Gregory struck almost immediately with the new ball, having Caleb Jewell caught behind with the third delivery of the reply, before Sam Whiteman and Jason Sangha provided some resistance. Richard Gleeson, the Lancashire fast bowler, made the breakthrough by bowling Whiteman, but Sangha continued to frustrate the Lions with an unbroken stand of 79 with Lehmann.”I’m really proud of the boys who’ve helped us rack up this formidable total to put us in a strong position to win this match,” said Gregory. “Dom [Sibley] and Keaton [Jennings] batted beautifully yesterday, with Dan carrying on his day-one form to propel us even further today with great support from James.”I enjoyed my partnership at the end with Craig to push past the 600 mark and we’ve started well in the tough task of taking 20 Australian wickets. The next two days will be a great test for us.”

India came undone in the face of a spectacular onslaught in front of an MCG crowd of 86,174

The Report by Andrew McGlashan08-Mar-2020″We haven’t played our best game of cricket yet and that’s still out there somewhere and hopefully it happens tomorrow,” Meg Lanning said on Saturday. Her team delivered in magnificent fashion, riding on the coattails of an audacious innings from Alyssa Healy, to claim a fifth T20 World Cup title with a crushing 85-run win in front of an MCG crowd of 86,174, just marginally short of a new world record for a women’s sports event.
.There were so many bigger-picture narratives about the day, but there was only one thing in the minds of the two teams for the few hours on the field. It was Australia’s day from the moment Lanning won the toss. They set the tone with the first over of both innings. Healy was dropped in an over that went for 14, making a similar statement that her husband, Mitchell Starc, who was among the thousands watching, did against New Zealand in 2015 men’s World Cup final. In the field, Megan Schutt got the better of Shafali Verma who had previously won their head-to-head hands down.That winning feeling – Meg Lanning is over the moon•AFP via Getty Images

It had not just been about Healy with the bat. Beth Mooney, who was also dropped on 8, finished as the leading run-scorer of the tournament with 259 at 64.75 after an expertly-paced 78 of 54 balls to ensure the opening stand was built on even if India clawed things back somewhat in the final five overs.That was the only period where the contest was even close. After Verma’s early departure things quickly got worse for India when Taniya Bhatia was forced to retire hurt after a blow on the neck (and was later subbed out with concussion) and before the end of the fourth over both Jemimah Rodrigues and Smriti Mandana had picked out mid-on against left-arm spin. All that was left was for Australia to finish the job.Powerplay statementAgainst the first ball of the final Healy came down the pitch against Deepti Sharma and swung a boundary through midwicket. The same could easily have happened the next two deliveries as well as Sharma took until her fourth delivery to pitch the ball. Then came a moment India will rue for a long time when Healy drilled a chance to cover where Verma shelled it. Another boundary, driven beautifully through the covers, signed off the first over which cost 14 runs. Even that early in the match it felt like a huge swing towards Australia. After two overs Healy had five boundaries and though she only added one more in the next four, by the end of the powerplay Australia had a firm grip at 49 for 0.Healy’s awesome strikingImmediately after the fielding restrictions were relaxed, India turned to their trump card on Poonam Yadav. Her first delivery was a perfectly decent googly that was nudged into the off side by Mooney. It might sound like a very small moment, but that was the delivery that caused so many problems in the opening match at the Sydney Showground. Australia’s strong start meant they could also sit on her somewhat, especially when the carnage continued at the other end. Healy was taking things to a new level. Two consecutive sixes straight down the ground off Rajeshwari Gayakwad – the first 83 metres – powered her towards a 30-ball fifty, the fastest by a male or female in any ICC global limited-overs final. Even better was to follow, though, when she launched three consecutive sixes off Shikha Pandey, the third of them a drive over cover that was eye-poppingly brilliant.Alyssa Healy and Beth Mooney rode their luck to give Australia a great start•Getty Images

Mooney trademark inningsMooney’s innings summed up so much about her career: overshadowed, for a large period, by a team-mate but when you look she has top-scored with a defining innings. She was the perfect foil for Healy’s early onslaught, feeding the strike to her partner as often as she could although not without some eye-catching shots of her own. When Healy fell, picking out long-on trying for a sixth six, Mooney went to a 41-ball half-century and followed it with a pristine inside-out cover drive off Radha Yadav. To India’s credit, they did not completely fall apart. Sharma struck twice in her last over to exact a modicum of revenge by claiming Lanning and Ash Gardner. Having started the last five overs with nine wickets in hand they only brought 42 runs.Schutt fires back, India foldSchutt’s first over the tournament, against India, went for 16 as Verma took hold of her. “Clearly, I don’t think I’m the best match-up to those two in the powerplay, they find me easy to play,” she said after the semi-final. It was a very different story this time. Verma laid down the gauntlet with a wonderful lofted drive first ball, only for it to plug in the outfield, but two balls later edged a back-of-a-length delivery with Healy following her runs with a superb catch up to the stumps. The first three bowlers used by Australia – Schutt, Jess Jonassen and Sophie Molineux – all struck in their opening overs. It was complete dominance.Finishing touchesHarmanpreet Kaur has done some magnificent things against Australia, but this has not been a great tournament for her and it ended with a slog-sweep that found deep midwicket to leave India 30 for 4. It was another wicket for Jonassen who, like Mooney, is such a key part of the team but does not always get the airtime of others. Australia could easily have drifted through the closing overs, but their fielding and catching was a final statement of how they peaked when it mattered. Mission accomplished.

New-look seam attack restrict New Zealand to sub-par 153 for 5 in series opener

The Report by George Dobell01-Nov-2019England 154 for 3 (Vince 59, Santner 3-23) beat New Zealand 153 for 5 (Taylor 44) by seven wickets
A maiden T20I half-century from James Vince helped a new-look England get their New Zealand tour off to a winning start in Christchurch.Despite taking the opportunity to look at three debutants – Sam Curran, Pat Brown and Lewis Gregory – England ensured the reign of new head coach, Chris Silverwood, got off to a winning start in sealing a sixth successive T20I victory. For a side experimenting with fringe candidates a year out from the T20 World Cup, it was a satisfying performance.There were some dissenting voices when Vince, now 28 and playing his 35th international game across formats for England, was recalled. But when he bats like this, combining composure with an ability to time the ball that few can match, it is easy to see why the selectors have
found it so hard to cut him adrift.James Vince pulls through the leg side•Getty Images

Here, demonstrating a range of conventional strokes, Vince controlled the run-chase perfectly. From the moment he hit his first delivery for
four, a classy square drive of Mitchell Santner, he batted with a fluency no other batsman in the game could replicate. Using his feet to pace and spin alike, he made it hard for New Zealand’s bowlers to settle on a length and hit as many fours – seven – as their batsmen managed in their entire innings.But while Vince may dominate the headlines, this was a result set up by a skilful display from England’s bowlers. Maintaining immaculate lines and lengths, they varied their paces cleverly to keep New Zealand to a total perhaps 20 under par on a surface that was a little sluggish – understandably, too: this is the earliest date an international game has been played in New Zealand’s South Island – but which offered bowlers little.The opening pair of Sam and Tom Curran conceded just seven from the first three overs of the match – Tom Curran started with a maiden – to ensure New Zealand were unable to make full use of the Powerplay. And while Sam Curran’s figures were dented by a third over that cost 21 – Colin Munro punishing Morgan’s decision to extend the bowler’s spell with two successive sixes – he had already snared the key wicket of a frustrated Guptill, playing-on as he looked to force the pace.It was a decent start from Brown, too. Bowling at the death, he showed both his skills and his composure, conceding two sixes but no fours,
and claiming a notable maiden international wicket when Ross Taylor mistimed a slower ball to deep midwicket. The third debutant, Lewis
Gregory, was not required with bat or ball, though looked just a touch nervous in the field.Pat Brown made his England debut•Getty Images

But perhaps Chris Jordan was the pick of the bowlers. While Tim Seifert may have been unlucky with his dismissal – replays suggested the full toss he scooped to mid-wicket was perilously close to waist height – Jordan demonstrated a good range of pace, good control and a willingness to bowl both in the Powerplay and at the death.That New Zealand were able to set anything like a competitive target was largely due to a fifth-wicket stand of 56 in 38 balls between Ross
Taylor and Daryl Mitchell. Mitchell hit the ball as hard as anyone but, coming in at 93 for 4 in the 14th over, had been left too much to do to get New Zealand up to a match-winning total. Only four overs in New Zealand innings realised more than 10 runs; only one realised more
than 13.Any hopes that New Zealand may have enough were quickly banished. Jonny Bairstow may have taken eight balls to get off the mark, but he then took 18 – three fours and a six – off Scott Kuggeleijn’s first over. So while Santner, with his changes of pace, troubled England with three wickets, the support bowlers – Kuggeleijn and Ish Sodhi – were unable to maintain the pressure.When Bairstow, brilliantly caught by Martin Guptill at deep mid-wicket after he had been drawn into slog-sweeping one well outside off stump, and then Vince, mistiming a long-hop in the same direction, fell New Zealand may have harboured hopes of a dramatic fightback. But Eoin
Morgan was too experienced to allow that and sealed the result with a heave over midwicket off Tim Southee with nine deliveries remaining.
The result puts England one-up in the five-match series.At the post-match press conference, Mitchell conceded that New Zealand were about 10 short of a par score. “We would’ve liked to have done better but I think England probably adapted better to the pitch than we did. It was tough to start on, was a bit two-paced and a bit slow. We lost a few wickets straight after the Powerplay there which halted our momentum a bit and we had to play catch up but fair play to England. They might have been a bit more match-fit having played a couple of warm up games and hopefully we’ll learn from this and be ready for the next one.”The match was preceded by a minute’s silence for those who lost their lives in the terrorist attack of March 15 in the city. All proceeds from ticket sales at the match are to be to donated to a fund to encourage the participation of ethnic minorities in sport.