NZ under NZTailender (ICC2005)

[NZTailender]

Inspired by Graham, although trying my best not to copy him.
I was thinking about doing a different side, but I'd just lose interest if it weren't New Zealand.
I loaded up the game and did all the usual, and got to squad selection for The Tour of Zimbabwe.

My XVIII for the tour.

Openers:
S Fleming (captain)
T McIntosh
J Marshall
M Papps

Bat:
N Astle
P Fulton
J How
H Marshall
J Ryder

Wicket Keepers:
B McCullum (WK)
L Vincent (WK)

All Rounders:
S Styris
J Oram

Quicks:
S Bond
J Franklin
C Martin
K Mills

Spin:
D Vettori


Our first match was a 3 day game against Mashonaland.
Here's how the lineups compare. (FC averages)

We didn't bowl well at all. A lot of drop catches and LBW shouts. 3 days though isn't enough time IMO. Bond got Chibhabha first ball of their second innings and the very next ball was a dropped catch. Argh!

Next match: First test v Zimbabwe.

 

[thewizard1o1]

Good luck...will be interesting to compare results you get with the ones from Graham's story. O and nice to see Bondy get a run

 

[Blaze]

Gud stuff mate, very interested to see how a full strength NZ side goes

 

[Graham]

Looking forward to following your story.

 

[NZTailender]

First test, Zimbabwe vs New Zealand

NZ were going into this match expecting a win, but Zimbabwe gave them a mighty scare.
An 'Established' XI was chosen with the exception of Fulton who was making his debut. He didn't dissappoint.

Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to bat first. Bond and Franklin struck early but couldn't follow it. None of the NZ bowlers got multiple wickets in their spells, except for Martin, who took 2 in his last spell. Goodwin was unlucky to get out for 99, while the rest of the line up got in the way with 3 40's and 2 30's posted.

New Zealand came into bat, ready to feast. Papps and Fleming looked settled before being dismissed for 13 and 16 respectivley. Marshall's resistence also ended on 13. Vincent and Styris scored a 50+ partnership before Styris was out. Vincent and Fulton then combined before Vincent was out for 77. Oram followed not long after for 17. Fulton scored 114 on his debut while Vettori offered 96 at the other end. Franklin and Bond also chipped in. New Zealand all out 436.

With a lead of 71 New Zealand failed to strike early with Vermuelen and Carlisle passing that score with a partnership of 72. Martin and Vettori then removed them along with Ewing (4). Goodwin again proved difficult with 83, losing three partners who in total contributed 49. Heath Streak then played an annoying innings from the Kiwi point of view with 40 not out.

Zimbabwe all out 308 with 30 minutes left in the first session on the last day. A draw looked probable but New Zealand came out all guns blazing chasing 238 for victory.. Papps hit a quick 29 before being bowled. Fleming was trapped LBW for just 4. Oram was promoted to 3 for his quick hitting but was run out on 21. Hamish Marshall (61 off 100) and Scott Styris (52 off 51) stablised the New Zealand innings. New Zealand looked to be cruising towards the total when Stryis and Marshall were dismissed in the space of two overs. Vincent and Fulton tried to get them there but Vincent was caught out on 13. Vettori lasted just 1 run before being bowled. With 30 needed Fulton and Franklin batted cautiousley. 3 overs remained with 5 to get. Two overs left and still 5 to get Fulton hit a four. In the last over needing just 1 run to win, Franklin, on the very last ball of the day, got a single.

New Zealand won by 3 wickets with MOTM going to Goodwin.

Next match: Second test vs Zimbabwe.

 

[Graham]

Good first up win mate

 

[NZTailender]

Good first up win mate

Thanks

I've really enjoyed reading your reports.

@thewizard1o1: Bondy got injured bowling in the second innings. Eurgh.

@Blaze: not getting things done quickly enough though but that could also be my fault.

 

[NZTailender]

Quick update. First innings completed in second test and some gritty batting from Oram and Franklin saved us after collapse.

With Bond injured I gambled by replacing him with Ryder, adding to batting depth. I would have to rely on Styris as the 5th bowler now. We won the toss and elected to bat on what I thought would be a batting paradise but I was mistaken, now somewhat regretting not replacing Bond with another bowler.

How they compare in the second test:

 

[NZTailender]

New Zealand win comfortabley

New Zealand elected to bat on what looked like a great batting pitch. Fleming and Papps reached 30 before Fleming was out followed quickley by Papps. When Vincent was out for a duck followed by Fulton for 5 NZ looked in serious trouble. Luckily Marshall and debutant Ryder put on a good partnership grabbing a half century each. However when they were lost in consecutive overs NZ looked in trouble again. Styris tried to hang around with Oram but was out for 12 as was Vettori. The previous Test's winner Franklin once again played a vital role, missing out on his 50 with a excellent 49. With just 1 wicket remaining Oram hit out but he missed out on his century, Martin out for 4.

Martin made up for that by taking 3 wickets as Zimbabwe were all out for 266. Ewing and Carlisle batted well with a 50 each but once removed NZ ripped through the lower order, apart from Streak who once again troubled the NZ bowlers.

NZ came out to score lots of runs quickley. Fleming and Papps looked very comfortable making yet another 30+ partnership before looking troubled. Fleming had a dropped catch off him and Papps 2 LBW appeals. They decided to hit out, though Papps was out caught soon after, Fleming continuing on to make 42.

Marshall was out cheaply. Vincent and Fulton combined for a good partnership. Fulton was out for 53 and debutant Ryder came to the crease. After early woes he settled, going on to make 81 as he and Vincent put on 179. Vincent batted excellently for 140. After Ryder was out slogging his way towards 100 NZ declared with 1 day and a session remaining.

Franklin and Martin grabbed two quick wickets before days end and Martin picked up another early the next day. Ewing and Ferreira, then Ewing and Blignaut then hung around trying to save the match. At one point there was even a faint hope of a Zimbabwe win. This was blown out of the water as Franklin dismissed Ewing with a brilliant delivery. The tail didn't last long and NZ sealed a 157 run win. Ewing defence in both innings earned him MOTM award.

With the test series won at 2-0 NZ are confident in doing a celan sweep in the one dayers.

Here's the lineup for the first match:

 

[NZTailender]

NZ overpowered Zimbabwe in the first one dayer by 104 runs.
Fulton and Papps repaid their selection by scoring 50's on debut, both falling short of centuries. Fleming and Vincent both did some creative hitting in the final 10 overs for NZ to reach 318.

NZ bowled extremely well, Zimbabwe going 6 down before 20 overs. Then Went hit a brilliant 81 to save some face but they eventually went down with Vettori bagging 5 wickets.

For the second One Day match New Zealand has named an unchanged lineup while Zimbabwe gas surprisingley replaced Went with Maungwa and Price with Mbwanga.

Next match: 2nd ODI between New Zealand and Zimbabwe.

 

[Graham]

Well done mate

Looking forward to seeing how you go against the big boys!

 

[Somerset]

Good read so far mate, great articles to give an excellent idea of how the matches went. Bit close that first test but a win's a win I guess!

 

[NZTailender]

Zimbabwe bounced back with a shcok win over New Zealand. Only Fleming and Marshall registered any significant scores as NZ were restricted to 194 for 8 by some superb Zimbabwe bowling. We looked to run through Zimbabwe when they lost 3 wickets early on but they stabalised and played well for the win.

Lineups for the Final one Day Match:

The Kiwi's replaced Franklin and martin with Mills and Bond for the deciding one dayer but that didn't help as Zimbabwe pulled off a wonderful win, sinking the Black Caps by 8 wickets.

Squad for the tour of South Africa.

Note: I've completed the tour already just trying to find the time to update the thread..

 

[NZTailender]

Just two changes to the line up. Mason was brought in as an extra bowler in the place of McIntosh and Taylor as an opener at the expensive of Papps.

NZ started their tour of South Africa with a 3 day match against border.

Players were rested and new players were given a chance to show their talent. McCullum was given a run too.

3 days wasn't really enough though our line up didn't do a good job at all.

Fleming would open with Taylor on debut. Astle missed out on a spot to McCullum while Vincent would be a specialist batsman at four.

Boucher proved a tough nut to crack as he set up South Africa's score. Mason bowled pretty well with 6 wickets in the match. Martin bowled great taking 8.

Taylor had the worse start to his debut with a duck. Ryder followed soon after with 12.
Fleming and Vincent combined for a 4th wicket partnership of over 200. Fulton belted 102 and McCullum provided 44 as we got within 12 of their score.

Unfortunately Franklin was injured in the first innings but that didn't matter as we knocked them over for 189. Pollock and Hall put on 60 for the 9th.

But we had just under 2 sessions to get the runs. Everyone swung the bat, instead of playing safe for the draw. We wanted to win this win. Taylor made before being bowled. Oram played a brilliant 68 while other players were promoted leaving Fulton and Ryder down the order just in case. When Vincent got out for a duck Ryder came in to bat with Fulton and we decided to play it safe. It didn't work as Ryder was out for six and fulton for 30, Martin not able to hold on for 5 overs, NZ going down by 38 runs.

Line ups for the 2nd test

We got absolutely thumped

 

[Graham]

Tough luck there mate. I know the feeling!

 

[NZTailender]

The final test, sealing South Africa's domination. That's 5 games in a row we've lost.

We started the ODI's with a very different looking lineup, I guess, and came away with a hard fought win.

 

[NZTailender]

Though I changed the lineup for the second ODI...which turned out to be...horrible.

Batters didn't do that bad but the bowlers let them down, but they redeemed themselves in the next match. i really would've though SA would get the runs in the last over..but no.

 

[NZTailender]

Statistics after the tour of Africa

Next: Zimbabwe tour of New Zealand.

Was glad we snatched the one day series. After losing twice in a row to Zimbabwe in the 1 dayers and then the 3 tests the Black Caps were pretty glum.

 

[Graham]

Well done on the ODI series win. It's a tough task playing with NZ as you're finding out!

 

[NZTailender]

Game underway in NZ. We had Zimbabwe 7-172 but the tail hang around with Goodwin before he got out for 122. Then the last 2 put on 72

And the lineups. Nicol making his test debut. Got 2 runs. Oops. FC average this year of 56 including a double century overall 42, aged 22.

Hatwell averages 43 in FC, and 50 this season. Currently batting with Fulton..

Edit: I said Hatwell's batting with Fulton even though the pic says Vincent, who got out in between me uploading the pic and me writing this. Boring trivia for those who could've got confused! What? Kittens.