Bowlers Do The Job But Where Were The Batters..?

             





Well that's it, New Zealand's T20 World Cup campaign is over, beaten in yet another super over last night by the West Indies.
Despite an incredibly good bowling performance, which saw Tim Southee end up with 3/21, Dougy Bracewell with 3/31, Ronnie Hira with 1/24 and Nathan McCullum with 2/19, we could not back up this outstanding bowling effort with the bat.

Where We Went Wrong:

New Zealand were only chasing 140 for the win last night, and our bowlers put the side in a very good position to claim the win, and potentially move forward to the semi final stages. Ron Nicol was poor with the bat, going for just 3, stepping across to the offside and trying to paddle one around the corner, he was caught plum lbw.

When McCullum came to the crease, New Zealand were just 8/1 and together with Martin Guptill, had a chance to increase the run rate and put a big score on the board. It looked like things may be heading that way too as McCullum found some rhythm early and put away a couple of good looking boundaries. However he could not continue this momentum, and he was caught on 22 as he tried to send another in the direction of the boundary rope. Guptill went soon after and soon New Zealand were looking very out of sorts.

Enter Ross Taylor who again proved to be the one to punish the West Indies bowlers, gaining a well earned 62 not out. But he was the only who even looked like hitting the ball anywhere near the boundary rope (pretty handy thing to be able to do in T20 cricket), as the next four batsmen fell for just 31 runs between them, and that is just not even close to being good enough in T20 cricket.
However thanks to the knock by Taylor, New Zealand managed to get themselves even with the West Indies after 20 overs, forcing a super over, New Zealand's second of the tournament.

How It Played Out:

New Zealand were batting first and sent McCullum and Taylor to the crease to open things up. Marlon Samuels was the West Indies weapon of choice, and a wide off the first ball may of had them scratching their heads about their decision. No big strokes early on from the New Zealand batsman saw them at 5/0 after four balls. Then Ross Taylor decided to take it upon himself to do the job, sending the ball for a four and then a massive 94m six in consecutive deliveries! They then grabbed a single and that took them 17/0 after their over, a very defendable score!
BUT...
Southee was the obvious choice to bowl the over for the kiwis annnnnnd he got hit for a 6wd off the first ball.....thats seven runs and still six balls remaining....things were already looking bad for the BlackCaps. Some ok bowling saw the Windies trudge along to need 5 off the last ball. Southee decided to give Samuels a low full toss which he then dispatched over the boundary for 6. West Indies are dancing and that is the end of the T20 world cup for New Zealand.

A world cup which New Zealand could've and should've easily done better in. They will be kicking themselves after they blew the chance to chase down a very reachable 140.

Standouts:

Nathan McCullum

Ross Taylor

Ronnie Hira

Doug Bracewell