NZ suffer after-dark pink-ball collapse
The pink-ball demons continue to come out at night, with New Zealand suffering a collapse of 4-30 in the final session of their tour match against Western Australia.
New Zealand's BJ Watling brings up his 50 on the final day of a cricket tour match between New Zealand and Western Australia in Perth. AFP Photo/Greg Wood
The Black Caps finished 10-426 at the WACA on Sunday, when they had three sessions of batting practice for the inaugural day-night Test that starts on Friday.
NZ were reduced to 10-391 in the 80th over, but played on as agreed pre-match.
Martin Guptill was the most productive batsman, retiring after reaching 103 before the dinner break.
BJ Watling also enjoyed some quality time at the crease in his knock of 81, while Brendon McCullum clubbed 49 off 28 balls against an inexperienced WA attack.
As has been the case in many of the day-night Sheffield Shield clashes, the game changed when the sun went down.
Highly-rated paceman Joel Paris, yet to make his first-class debut, grabbed 3-19 in an impressive five-over spell with the old ball.
Andrew Tye then used the second new ball to remove Tim Southee and Ross Taylor, who batted at No.11 after his incredible knock of 290 in the second Test at the same venue.
Kane Williamson was rested from NZ’s innings, meaning he is yet to bat against the pink ball in a match.
NZ’s only previous pink-ball experience came in a home training camp and last month’s 50-over clash in Canberra, which Williamson also skipped.
Guptill hit 94 in that one-day clash at Manuka Oval, his only other score of substance on the current tour.
The opener has failed to pass 25 in all four of his knocks in the ongoing Test series, but he looked a different batsman against WA.
Australia’s powerful attack will present a lot more challenges at Adelaide Oval than the likes of Liam O’Connor, a 22-year-old legspinner yet to make his first-class debut.
But the leading run-scorer of this year’s World Cup clearly regained some of his natural aggression in a productive three-hour stint at the crease.
Guptill hammered O’Connor for a fourth sixth to bring up his ton off 107 balls.
O’Connor finished with figures of 1-97 from 18 overs but his wicket was the prized scalp of McCullum, who was stumped by Josh Inglis.
Inglis also pocketed seven catches and will be cursing the fact the game is not a first-class fixture.
Queensland keeper Wally Grout’s eight dismissals at the Gabba in 1960 is the record for a first-class game in Australia.
– AAP
