Newcomers spark up Black Caps

Tag : black cement

Standout performances from two new arrivals helped convince NewZealand captain Daniel Vettori his lineup can cement their placeamong the world's top-three one-day international cricket sides.
Teenage paceman Tim Southee, in just his third ODI, and allrounderGrant Elliott, in his second, produced the match-turningperformances their captain demanded as they beat England by 22 runsin the third ODI in Bristol yesterday.
Vettori labelled it a typical Kiwi"backs-against-the-wall" victory, based on excellentfielding.
He'd put the pressure on senior players to lead the team out oftheir win drought, and while man-of-the-match Kyle Mills stepped upwith bat and ball, their two most inexperienced internationals werekey figures.
Southee's first tour has been one of frustration; an expensive testdebut at Lord's, a back problem, a mystery virus and a surprisingomission from the third test side. Then the 19-year-old sprained anankle at training and his ODI series looked doubtful.
A Durham ODI debut of one for 68 off 10 was a concern, then heshowed some promise in the Birmingham washout with consecutivewickets in the final over.
It wasn't looking good at Bristol's County Ground either, 23 runsoff his first three overs as New Zealand defended just 182. All ofa sudden he took three for none in eight balls, then the hugewicket of captain Paul Collingwood, lbw for 34 with his penultimatedelivery.
"I was questioning myself after his third over but his fourth,seventh and eight were outstanding," Vettori said.
"We've just got to keep putting faith in him because he's anatural talent and he just needs that experience to know what to doin all these situations.
"He's still obviously learning a lot but to take four for 38in difficult circumstances -- his first three overs went for a fewand his next seven were outstanding -- just shows his progressionin a short period of time."
South African-born Elliott, who played for Gauteng until 2003,might be 10 years older than Southee but his rise was even faster.
The previous Saturday he was playing for Weybridge in the Surreyleague before being called up as cover after Jacob Oram strainedhis hamstring.
He quickly showed he can make things happen. His debut innings of56 bailed New Zealand out of deep trouble; he caught compatriotKevin Pietersen off Mills' bowling then took the final wicket ofChris Tremlett to give him five for 32 off 10.2 overs in his firsttwo ODIs.
"He's a good find for us, someone who should stick with us fora while now," Vettori said, joking they would "send Jacobhome now".
"It's a foregone conclusion (Elliott) will stay for the lasttwo games. His performances warrant that. When you get a guy whocomes from what he's been doing and steps up at international levelagainst a team who's playing really really well is pleasing forus."
The tourists arrived in London today confident they could ride thewave into The Oval on Wednesday and Lord's on Saturday to snatch anunlikely 3-1 win.
Having started the tour ranked third in the world in ODIs,confidence was dangerously low after the comprehensive beating inDurham, following on from the tests.
"When we perform like we did (in Bristol), guys startbelieving we are a good side. The dressing room is in a really goodspace," Vettori said.
"I never questioned the fact we could win as a one-day team,but after the test series the morale was down a bit and Manchesterand Durham only added to that.
"These last two games have shown we are a good team and we canwin on the world stage. We justify our ranking in the world and wewant to go higher than that."