Santner's beauty, Bairstow's howler
Plays of the day from the T20 between England and New Zealand
George Dobell
23-Jun-2015
Ross Taylor provided some entertainment in the field • Getty Images
Ball of the day
It is generally presumed that T20 cricket is a batsman's game. And rightly so; Mark Wood's first two balls were hit for six by Brendon McCullum. But Mitchell Santner's delivery to dismiss Jonny Bairstow provided a rare moment of joy for a bowler. Santner, the left-arm spinner on T20 international debut, produced an absolute beauty that drifted into the batsman, gripped on the dry surface and turned past the bat to hit the top of off stump. It was, in any format of the game, a beautiful piece of bowling.
It is generally presumed that T20 cricket is a batsman's game. And rightly so; Mark Wood's first two balls were hit for six by Brendon McCullum. But Mitchell Santner's delivery to dismiss Jonny Bairstow provided a rare moment of joy for a bowler. Santner, the left-arm spinner on T20 international debut, produced an absolute beauty that drifted into the batsman, gripped on the dry surface and turned past the bat to hit the top of off stump. It was, in any format of the game, a beautiful piece of bowling.
Entertainer of the day
Ross Taylor gave the perfect example of why this New Zealand side leaves England with a legion of new fans. Taylor was fielding on the boundary and enjoying some good humoured exchanges with the crowd when Eoin Morgan mistimed a Matt Henry delivery to deep square leg. Taylor clung on to a run-and-tumble catch, and was rewarded with a good-natured cheer. He immediately walked to the boundary, cap upturned in hand, looking for tips, much to the amusement of the fans.
Ross Taylor gave the perfect example of why this New Zealand side leaves England with a legion of new fans. Taylor was fielding on the boundary and enjoying some good humoured exchanges with the crowd when Eoin Morgan mistimed a Matt Henry delivery to deep square leg. Taylor clung on to a run-and-tumble catch, and was rewarded with a good-natured cheer. He immediately walked to the boundary, cap upturned in hand, looking for tips, much to the amusement of the fans.
Relief of the day
Bairstow was not involved in the wicket of Taylor, caught at long-off off the bowling of Adil Rashid, but nobody on the ground would have been more delighted. Bairstow had dropped Taylor, a simple chance, off Ben Stokes a couple of balls earlier and must have feared that it would be a costly mistake. Taylor had, after all, scored two centuries during the ODI series. But without adding to his score, Taylor hit Rashid straight into the air and Bairstow could smile again.
Bairstow was not involved in the wicket of Taylor, caught at long-off off the bowling of Adil Rashid, but nobody on the ground would have been more delighted. Bairstow had dropped Taylor, a simple chance, off Ben Stokes a couple of balls earlier and must have feared that it would be a costly mistake. Taylor had, after all, scored two centuries during the ODI series. But without adding to his score, Taylor hit Rashid straight into the air and Bairstow could smile again.
Improvisation of the day
Joe Root displayed fancy footwork to go with his fancy bat work when facing Tim Southee. Root brought his back foot forward in pre-meditating a scoop over backward square leg. When Southee bowled full and wide, Root quickly adjusted, nimbly stepping back again and instead running the ball past short third man to the boundary. It was a remarkable piece of improvisation.
Joe Root displayed fancy footwork to go with his fancy bat work when facing Tim Southee. Root brought his back foot forward in pre-meditating a scoop over backward square leg. When Southee bowled full and wide, Root quickly adjusted, nimbly stepping back again and instead running the ball past short third man to the boundary. It was a remarkable piece of improvisation.
Redemption of the day
Just three days after spilling a crucial catch in the deep that let Bairstow off the hook late in England's winning chase at Chester-le-Street, Santner was under pressure once more. David Willey had just got off the mark by bludgeoning Mitchell McClenaghan for six. Willey went for the slog once more - this time off Southee - and Santner, running in from long-on and with the bright afternoon sun in his eyes, had an age to wait for the ball to drop. But this time the T20 debutant held his nerve and the catch. The look of relief on his face was palpable.
Just three days after spilling a crucial catch in the deep that let Bairstow off the hook late in England's winning chase at Chester-le-Street, Santner was under pressure once more. David Willey had just got off the mark by bludgeoning Mitchell McClenaghan for six. Willey went for the slog once more - this time off Southee - and Santner, running in from long-on and with the bright afternoon sun in his eyes, had an age to wait for the ball to drop. But this time the T20 debutant held his nerve and the catch. The look of relief on his face was palpable.
Catch of the day
There were a couple of outstanding catches from New Zealand - Taylor's to account for Morgan could easily have filled this category - but Brendon McCullum made his to account for Alex Hales appear routine. Running towards the cover boundary from mid-off, McCullum managed to keep his eye on the ball and judge his sprint perfectly to cling on to a tough chance.
There were a couple of outstanding catches from New Zealand - Taylor's to account for Morgan could easily have filled this category - but Brendon McCullum made his to account for Alex Hales appear routine. Running towards the cover boundary from mid-off, McCullum managed to keep his eye on the ball and judge his sprint perfectly to cling on to a tough chance.
George Dobell is a senior correspondent at ESPNcricinfo