Rain Denies New Zealand’s First Tour Victory Opportunity

June 18, 2008 by Rob Scanlon

England Cricket England (162 all out from 24 overs) vs New Zealand (127-2 from 19 overs) NO RESULT- GAME ABANDONED.

If things aren’t going your way, the phrase ‘when it rains, it pours’ is often used. The irony of this won’t be lost on Daniel Vettori after today’s second One Day International was finally abandoned due to the weather, as rain interrupted play throughout the day.

New Zealand’s skipper must be cursing his luck at the moment and wishing he was back home with some time off to think about how to revitalise his country’s side. This was the first time in a while that they were on course for victory, only to be denied by some grim and gloomy Birmingham weather. Just 6 more balls were needed to be delivered in order to reach the required point where a result could be achieved and only 7 runs had to be scored to win under the Duckworth/Lewis method so the tourists were left agonisingly close.

Brendon McCullum (60*) and Scott Styris (19*) looked set to steer their side to the target but the pair were forced to depart the sodden Edgbaston turf still with a 1-0 deficit in the NatWest series and looking understandably glum.

There are positives for both sides to take from today’s stop start encounter. Luke Wright hit some crisp, confident strokes in his 52, his second international half century. Paul Collingwood (37) continued to look in good touch and the crowd were treated to a glimpse of Dimitri Mascarenhas’ power within a brisk 23.

For New Zealand, Kyle Mills started to justify his selection with a good spell of bowling, as did Grant Elliott. The youngster Tim Southee belied his lack of years to deliver a mature final over in which he took two wickets in two balls and forced a run out from the last ball of the innings. Still only 19, the selectors clearly see Southee as an integral part of their country’s next generation of players, as he is given plenty of responsibility in the side- he bowled at the death of the innings in Sunday’s match too.

Tough luck it may have been for New Zealand but England had to bat with their overs constantly being cut down, and their batsmen having to leave the field then coming back on which is never good for building momentum. By the end, the rain was heavy, the light was gloomy and it wouldn’t have felt like a memorable victory for Vettori’s side with all the adjustments made to the match throughout the day. Spare a thought for the supporters, who watched just 43 overs of action and will have returned to their homes soaking wet and, presumably, without much justification for taking a day off work.

The two sides travel to Bristol this Saturday for game number 3. The weather forecast? Light rain. Just don’t tell Vettori!

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