Australia rescued by the rain

New Zealand and Australia shared the points as their contest at Edgbaston was rained out in disappointing fashion.
New Zealand will be the more frustrated side by the result as they looked on track for a good win when rain had the final say in Birmingham.
Kane Williamson won the toss and boldly elected to bat first on a cloudy morning and he would go on to do his side proud with a magnificent hundred that helped take his score to a strong showing of 291 all out in the Duckworth-Lewis affected 46-over match. In reply, Australia managed a scrappy 53 for three in nine overs.
Luke Ronchi (65 off 43 balls) set the tone from the get go as he dispatched the white ball all around the park and helped his captain put on a handsome 99 runs for the second wicket in just 18 overs. Williamson started his innings carefully, acting as a neat foil for the dashing opener. His knock was well measured and he increased the tempo gradually and ended up with a 97-ball even 100 when he was run out. The wicket heralded a collapse of seven for 37 as Josh Hazlewood (6-52) made merry with the ball and restricted their old foes to a score of under 300.
It is generally agreed that the DL method favours the side batting second but the formula has been changed in recent years and when there was another rain delay during the innings break, Australia’s goal post of 292 in 46 overs was moved to 235 in 33 overs, which sounded a much stiffer ask.
Australia were still solid favourite to get the runs but they appeared a little ring rusty – they hadn’t fielded sharply either – and some good bowling from Trent Boult (1-28) and Adam Milne (2-9) brought rewards. David Warner (18) nicked off and then Aaron Finch (8) was caught in a soft fashion in the infield. When Milne had Moises Henriques (8) caught and bowled, the Black Caps were ahead on D/L by 25 runs. And then the rain returned to dampen the parade.
It was a great pity that this Tasman derby was washed out. Rain is likely to affect many games in this short tournament of two and a half weeks and there are no reserve days in the group stages. As Williamson told us after the match, “It’s a funny game, cricket.” It sure is.
Latest
-
News
Darren Stevens ‘looking forward to the ‘next chapter’ as his Kent innings ends
The all-rounder will leave Kent after 17 years at the end of the season.
-
News
Darren Stevens announces his retirement at the age of 46
The all-rounder’s 17-year stint at Kent will end later this year.
-
The Hundred
Hundred history-maker Will Smeed: ‘I very much still want to play everything’
The rising star of the white-ball game could be on England’s radar.
-
The Hundred
Lauren Winfield-Hill stars as Oval Invincibles begin title defence with big win
The home side defeated the Northern Superchargers by nine wickets.
-
News
Sam Curran the main man as Oval Invincibles beat Northern Superchargers
Curran scored 60 in his side’s three-wicket win at the Kia Oval.
-
England
England opener Alex Lees keen to see aggressive approach adopted in county game
The Durham batter has used the break in Test cricket to spread the word.
-
The Hundred
‘It was awesome’ – Will Smeed ends his 90s curse to hit Hundred’s first century
The youngster had fallen short of a maiden century on multiple occasions during the first half of 2022.
-
The Hundred
Will Smeed becomes first batter to hit ton in Hundred during Birmingham win
The opener cracked an unbeaten 101 off 50 balls.
-
England
Women’s game on upward trend and schools an important target – Anya Shrubsole
The 30-year-old pace bowler was restricted to competing against boys during childhood.