McCullum's persistence, and the super slow slower ball
Plays of the day from the first ODI between Zimbabwe and New Zealand in Harare
Arun Venugopal
02-Aug-2015
Ross Taylor's 15th ton for New Zealand puts him just one behind their all-time top century-maker Nathan Astle • Associated Press
Taylor's misjudgement
During their big stand, Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson weren't exactly sprinting, but there was a sense of calm to their running between the wickets. Their calling was clear and decisive. Loud calls of "yes, two" or "no, stay" rang out every now and then. Until the 22nd over, that is. Taylor drove a fuller delivery from Prosper Utseya and immediately set off for a non-existent single. Sikandar Raza, in the covers, dived to his right, gathered the ball and threw at the non-striker's end in one smooth motion. Taylor was still a way away from the crease and would have been comfortably out had Raza's throw found the stumps.
During their big stand, Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson weren't exactly sprinting, but there was a sense of calm to their running between the wickets. Their calling was clear and decisive. Loud calls of "yes, two" or "no, stay" rang out every now and then. Until the 22nd over, that is. Taylor drove a fuller delivery from Prosper Utseya and immediately set off for a non-existent single. Sikandar Raza, in the covers, dived to his right, gathered the ball and threw at the non-striker's end in one smooth motion. Taylor was still a way away from the crease and would have been comfortably out had Raza's throw found the stumps.
Elliott's wait
New Zealand's innings went into fast-forward mode once Grant Elliott arrived at the crease in the 37th over. The steady rhythm of the innings until that point was replaced by a frenetic rush as Elliott sliced, swiped and reverse-swept. Then, in the 46th over, Chamu Chibhabha got one horribly wrong: slow, very short and outside off. Elliott, having given himself too much room, had to stretch his body to get to the ball which took an eternity to arrive. And once it did, the batsman could do little but play a checked pull for two runs. Next ball, Elliott was given another go at a very similar delivery. This time he swatted it to sweeper cover for one.
New Zealand's innings went into fast-forward mode once Grant Elliott arrived at the crease in the 37th over. The steady rhythm of the innings until that point was replaced by a frenetic rush as Elliott sliced, swiped and reverse-swept. Then, in the 46th over, Chamu Chibhabha got one horribly wrong: slow, very short and outside off. Elliott, having given himself too much room, had to stretch his body to get to the ball which took an eternity to arrive. And once it did, the batsman could do little but play a checked pull for two runs. Next ball, Elliott was given another go at a very similar delivery. This time he swatted it to sweeper cover for one.
McCullum's persistence
The sight of Nathan McCullum bowling in Harare would have gladdened the hearts of purists. He gave generous flight to the ball and didn't deviate from that plan even when Chibhabha was taking runs off him. The batsman sliced and cut the first two balls of one of McCullum's overs, and got an outside edge off the third, before guiding the fourth, a faster one, to the third-man boundary. Ten runs off the first four balls. Was McCullum going to go flatter? He didn't, instead tossing the ball up liberally outside off stump. Chibhabha took on the challenge and attempted an expansive drive, only to see the ball spin through the gap between bat and pad.
The sight of Nathan McCullum bowling in Harare would have gladdened the hearts of purists. He gave generous flight to the ball and didn't deviate from that plan even when Chibhabha was taking runs off him. The batsman sliced and cut the first two balls of one of McCullum's overs, and got an outside edge off the third, before guiding the fourth, a faster one, to the third-man boundary. Ten runs off the first four balls. Was McCullum going to go flatter? He didn't, instead tossing the ball up liberally outside off stump. Chibhabha took on the challenge and attempted an expansive drive, only to see the ball spin through the gap between bat and pad.
Utseya's fumble
Williamson and Taylor had consolidated enough and were upping the scoring-rate in the middle overs. Zimbabwe's fielding was beginning to look clumsy and the visitors were making the most of it. In the 30th over, when Williamson cut one to deep point, Prosper Utseya - who was mopping up on the boundary - dived and pushed the ball away from the fence, but rather untidily. The result? A four, as the ball rolled back over the boundary.
Williamson and Taylor had consolidated enough and were upping the scoring-rate in the middle overs. Zimbabwe's fielding was beginning to look clumsy and the visitors were making the most of it. In the 30th over, when Williamson cut one to deep point, Prosper Utseya - who was mopping up on the boundary - dived and pushed the ball away from the fence, but rather untidily. The result? A four, as the ball rolled back over the boundary.
Arun Venugopal is a senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo