The BLACKCAPS and Australia take a point each from the abandoned match throwing Group A open.

Rain halts charging BLACKCAPS

Posted Friday, 2 June, 2017 in International Match Reports

The weather had the final say in Birmingham, just as the BLACKCAPS were getting on top of Australia in their opening ICC Champions Trophy clash at Edgaston.

A quick-fire 65 from opener Luke Ronchi and Kane Williamson's ninth ODI century helped the BLACKCAPS post 291 from their 46 overs in a rain reduced first innings.

Kane Williamson hit three sixes and eight fours to reach three figures in 96 balls. 2017©IBC/Getty Images
Further showers revised Australia's target to a more manageable 235 from 33 overs, but Steve Smith's men found early trouble.

Trent Boult removed David Warner for 18, before an Adam Milne double strike had the Australians reeling at 53-3 when the rain came.

Pace bowler Adam Milne claimed 2-9 including the wicket of Moses Henriques the ball before the rain arrived.
The Australians were well behind the Duckworth Lewis calculations, but the Birmingham weather would save them with eleven of the required 20 overs still to be bowled to constitute a match.

Scorecard

The BLACKCAPS relocate to Cardiff where they will face England on Tuesday and Bangladesh on Friday.

Key Play
Luke Ronchi's fearless opening cameo of 65 from 43 balls set the BLACKCAPS Champions Trophy campaign alight. It also piled the pressure on the Australians and set his team on course for a commanding total. His six he hit over cover off Pat Cummins in the ninth over was the shot of the match.

Low Key Big Moment
The run-out of Kane Williamson on 100. An innocuous piece of work all round really. Williamson departed just as the BLACKCAPS looked ready to really explode to a match winning total. They were 257-4 with seven overs to go and Williamson had just plundered 50 off 34 balls.

Big Play
Kane Williamson’s ninth ODI century was beautifully paced. He worked hard early on to get to a patient fifty and then burst to life in the second half of the innings, powering his way to three figures at better than a run-a-ball. Played all the shots and used the crease expertly.

Key Phase
With a terrific platform to launch from the BLACKCAPS could only must 37 runs with their final seven wickets. Credit to Australia who bowled well and took their catches in a crucial period of the match.

Rain and Reductions
The rain during the innings break would shrink the 292 run target to 235 in 33 overs. It’s well known that DLS favours the team chasing and this was no exception. However, early wickets would always hike the pressure on Australia and so it played out.

Big Phase
The Australian opening power-play. 24 dot balls out of the 42 balls bowled in the power play. This pressure resulted in the dismissals of both Aussie openers as they tried to push the pace.  The momentum was all with the BLACKCAPS when the rain returned for a final time.

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