Henry Nicholls notched an ODI best 83 off 62 to steer the BLACKCAPS through to a strong total in front of his home crowd at Hagley Oval. PHOTOSPORT

Hagley Heroes

Posted Saturday, 23 December, 2017 in International Match Reports

In Short
The BLACKCAPS sealed the GJ Gardner Homes ODI series with an emphatic 204-run victory over the West Indies in front of a strong crowd at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.

Trent Boult claimed 7-34 to reach 100 ODI wickets as the visitors were bowled out for 121 to suffer their heaviest ever ODI defeat to New Zealand.

Scorecard

A record sixth-wicket partnership (135) between local boys Henry Nicholls (83*) and Todd Astle (49) anchored the BLACKCAPS 325 run total, while there were solid contributions from George Worker (58), Colin Munro (30) and Ross Taylor (57).

With the series wrapped up 2-0, the side’s return to Hagley Oval for what’s expected to be a sold out third and final ODI on Boxing Day.

Platform
As they did in Whangarei, openers George Worker and Colin Munro got the BLACKCAPS off to a flyer. The 50 was up in the sixth over when Munro departed for 30 off 25. Worker would push onto a second consecutive half-century and he was backed up by a typically breezy 57 by Ross Taylor.

Hometown Heroes
After losing the big wickets of Ross Taylor and Tom Latham in the space of two overs, Nicholls and Astle came together at 169-4 and work to do. On their home ground, the Cantabrian pair put on a clinic in middle over batting. They manoeuvred the ball around and ran particularly well to steer the BLACKCAPS into a position launch. And launch they did! Sixes, fours, scoops, and slaps. The home crowd loved it and by the time they were done the scoreboard was well north of 300.

Boulty Brilliance
An absolute class act yet again. The lethal left-armer had the ball swinging early and the West Indian top order had few answers as their top four batsman were knocked over in the opening power-play. Boult then returned to claim his best ODI figures and become the fifth fastest ODI player in terms of matches to reach 100 wickets (56 games). His 7-34 only one run shy of Tim Southee's New Zealand best record, recorded against England in Wellington at the World Cup.

Fireball Ferguson
The Auckland Aces nasty-fasty was the perfect back-up for Boult. Lockie Ferguson was bowled a mean opening spell which has the visitors jumping all over the place. The short ball brought him two wickets, while a red hot yorker had him on a hat-trick. Hagley Oval screamed him to the crease for the big delivery that narrowly flew past the outside edge of the new man who survived ... just. Another impressive showing by the promising quick we are now dubbing 'Fireball Ferguson'.


Clinical
Tom Latham's first game in charge of the BLACKCAPS on home soil could barely have gone better. A thoroughly professional performance which resulted in a resounding result to extend the BLACKCAPS winning streak at Hagley to seven games. Kane Who? Just joking! The skip will be back soon :)

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