The Black Caps incredible 2014 has given their (sometimes) loyal fans reason to believe. To believe in the possibility of a rare period of dominance for the vastly under-resourced cricketing nation. To believe the hype – that they are World Cup smokies, in the same way the 1992 Young Guns were.
The side completed their fifth test win of the year, over a Sri Lankan side that is improving rapidly in their travels away from the comforts of home. The five wins is the most they have registered in a calendar year in the history of test series record-keeping (approximately 1930). They have come against quality opposition too – India, West Indies, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. That is, they are more significant than wins against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh (with respect), and outline the professionalism and standards this team now play with.
Although the team’s cohesiveness can be pointed to as a reason for a strong finish to the year, in truth, their captain Brendon McCullum was the major factor in this particular win. Capping off his own incredible year – the destructive batsman scored 1164 runs in the year, the fourth most in World cricket – made a remarkable 195 from just 134 balls.
The first innings assault came after New Zealand had lost the toss and were expected to struggle on a pitch offering assistance to seam bowlers. However, McCullum had other ideas as he danced down the wicket, forced the Sri Lankans to bowl a more amenable length, and deposited it to all parts of the fresh Hagley Oval. In all, he struck 18 fours and 11 sixes in a dominant performance that made a mockery of losing the much hyped toss. Mccallum was the aggressor in a match defining partnership of 206 with Jimmy Neesham (85) that gave his fearsome swing bowling tyros, Tim Southee and Trent Boult an ample total to defend.
They duly obliged. Destroying the tourists in their first turn at bat. All out for 138. They had five wickets between them, leaving Neil Wagner (3-60) to mop up the tail, and giving McCullum the easy decision to enforce the follow on. Southee and Boult also obliged in the second innings but only after the fantastic rearguard efforts of the entire Sri Lankan team. Led by the patient Dimuth Karunaratne (152), the Lions withstood for 154 overs and scored 407, to leave New Zealand a chase of 10 to win the game. Lahiru Thirimanne (25) offered support by way of time, and Angelo Matthews (66) offered support in the form of both runs and balls to help add credibility and competitiveness to the game that was only ever going in one direction after the first innings.
New Zealand reached the small target with the loss of just two wickets – as we predicted earlier in the week. Kane Williamson was not out 31 and Ross Taylor not out 39 to conclude 2014 in a winning manner. The Black Caps an Brendon McCullum enjoyed their best ever years, and will be hoping to continue the momentum in 2015. The teams reconvene in Wellington on January 4 for game two.
Revised Series Odds*
New Zealand 2-0 – $1.64
New Zealand 1-0 – $1.80
Drawn – $2.02
Odds brought to you by Betfair Australia.
New Zealand 441 (McCullum 195, Neesham 85) and 107 for 2 beat Sri Lanka 138 (Boult 3-25, Wagner 3-60) and 407 (Karunaratne 152, Boult 4-100, Southee 4-91) by eight wickets
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