Somerset's New Zealand Journey

[Somerset]

2nd Test vs West Indies
Bruce Martin comes into the side in place of Kyle Mills for the crucial second test match.

Day One
New Zealand 305/4
C.McMillan 80*
S.Fleming 78
P.Fulton 51

New Zealand made an excellent start to the second test with a 136 run partnership for the first wicket before McMillan combined with Sinclair and Weston to secure a healthy position at the close of play.

Day Two
New Zealand 559/8 declared
B.McCullum 149
T.Weston 91
C.McMillan 82
S.Fleming 78
P.Fulton 51
J.Taylor 3/143

West Indies 101/1
C.Gayle 50*

McCullum played a magnificent innings and posted his highest test match score of 149 as New Zealand reached 559 before declaring. Weston was unluckly to fall short of a maiden test century. West Indies started positively in reply but Bond's wicket of Wavell Hinds ensured New Zealand were still in the best seat.

Day Three
West Indies 501/7
C.Gayle 212
R.Sarwan 99
B.Lara 77
S.Bond 3/139

West Indies dominated day three as the New Zealand bowlers struggled in the conditions to produce enough pressure and Gayle in particular made them pay.

Day Four
West Indies 518 all out
C.Gayle 212
R.Sarwan 99
B.Lara 77
S.Bond 4/156

New Zealand 256/8
T.Weston 74*
J.Lawson 3/52

New Zealand's attempt for quick runs to try and see a result in the match almost backfired but Weston held strong and ensured that West Indies would at least chase 298, with New Zealand looking for an early declaration on day five.

Day Five
New Zealand 261 all out
T.Weston 75
J.Lawson 5/54

West Indies 301 all out
S.Chanderpaul 107
J.Franklin 5/83
J.Oram 3/64

An incredible final day saw New Zealand victorious by one run. At 4/229 West Indies looked in control with Chanderpaul batting towards another victory for the home side. However, Oram and Franklin were superb in the last half hour of the second session as well as the third as New Zealand snatched a superb test match win.

New Zealand win by 1 run. Series tied 1-1

 

[Somerset]

1st ODI vs West Indies
The tourists decided to select the same side that appeared in the first test with Mills replacing Bruce Martin who was ineffective in the second test.

New Zealand 311/7 (50 overs)
S.Fleming 78
P.Fulton 77
M.Sinclair 67
C.McMillan 55

West Indies 240 all out (40 overs)
C.Gayle 81
D.Vettori 5/48

New Zealand win by 71 runs

An excellent performance from New Zealand saw the tourists go 1-0 up in the ODI series. Fleming and Fulton ensured the innings got off to a flying start and Sinclair and McMillan carryed it on. At one stage the Kiwis looked like posting 350 but a disappointing final 9 overs where no boundaries were scored indicated a better effort from the Windies at the death. Gayle made 81 but Vettori took five and received good support as New Zealand won comfortably.

 

[Somerset]

2nd ODI vs West Indies
New Zealand kept the same side for the second ODI.

New Zealand 240/8 (50 overs)
B.McCullum 81*
T.Weston 50
R.Hinds 3/34
D.Mohammed 3/62

West Indies 242/4 (48.3 overs)
S.Chanderpaul 62
B.Lara 50
R.Hinds 50*
R.Sarwan 47*

West Indies win by 6 wickets

New Zealand posted a competitive total and were pleased with their effort after being reduced to 5/94. McCullum made 81 from just 69 balls. In reply, West Indies looked to have the run rate under control over the course of the innings and the in-form Ryan Hinds and Sarwan saw them home.

 

[Somerset]

3rd ODI vs West Indies
Tuffey replaced Mills while Scott Styris took the place of Jacob Oram, who had been struggling for form over the series.

West Indies 271/6 (50 overs)
B.Lara 89*
W.Hinds 59
C.Gayle 45
S.Bond 3/45

New Zealand 243 all out (47.1 overs)
S.Fleming 61
B.McCullum 43
D.Bravo 3/43
R.Hinds 3/52

West Indies win by 28 runs and win the series 2-1

Yet again New Zealand lost an ODI series after winning the first match. Lara smashed 89 to get the home side to 271 after Hinds and Gayle put on 105 for the first wicket. Bond was the only New Zealand bowler to gain respect. New Zealand started well and were 2/151 but soon collapsed to 7/194, and the match was effectively over even though McCullum launched a last minute attack.

 

[Somerset]

2007/08 Season Summary - Results

2007 ICC World Cup
Beat England by 48 runs
Beat Kenya by 196 runs
Beat Canada by 109 runs
Beat West Indies by 4 wickets
Beat Bangladesh by 5 wickets
Beat Pakistan by 128 runs
Beat India by 5 runs
Lost to Australia by 5 wickets
Beat South Africa by 1 wicket
Semi-final - Beat Pakistan by 38 runs
Final - Lost to India by 24 runs

Sri Lanka (away)
1st Test - Lost by an innings and 224 runs
2nd Test - Lost by 9 wickets
1st ODI - Lost by 9 wickets
2nd ODI - Lost by 8 wickets
3rd ODI - Lost by 21 runs

Bangladesh (away)
1st Test - Win by an innings and 16 runs
2nd Test - Win by 8 wickets
1st ODI - Win by 90 runs
2nd ODI - Lost by 5 wickets
3rd ODI - Lost by 13 runs

England (home)
1st Test - Win by 3 wickets
2nd Test - Match Drawn (with scores level)
20-20 International - Lost by 7 wickets
1st ODI - Win by 39 runs
2nd ODI - Lost by 7 wickets
3rd ODI - Lost by 6 wickets
4th ODI - Lost by 1 run
5th ODI - Win by 73 runs

West Indies (away)
1st Test - Lost by 108 runs
2nd Test - Win by 1 run
1st ODI - Win by 71 runs
2nd ODI - Lost by 6 wickets
3rd ODI - Lost by 28 runs

Played 25 ODIs, won 13, lost 12
Played 8 Test Matches, won 4, drawn 1, lost 3

 

[Somerset]

2007/08 Season Summary - Averages and Comments

The season started with the 2007 World Cup which was extremely successful for New Zealand, reaching the final and losing just one game to Australia before it. Wins over Pakistan and India in the Super 8, along with a thrilling one wicket victory over South Africa were highlights for the home side. Fulton, Bond and McCullum in particularly stood out as world class.

The tour of Sri Lanka following the tournament was forgettable. The Kiwis lost both two tests, one by an innings and 224 runs, as well as the three ODIs. The Sri Lankan batsmen nailed the New Zealand bowlers and Murali and Samaraweera had a field day at the bowling crease. The side then travelled to Bangladesh and the first test saw Peter Fulton post an unbeaten triple century, the highest ever individual test match score from a New Zealander. Both tests were won, though the ODI series was lost 2-1 after victory in the opener - a common occurance in ODI cricket for New Zealand following the World Cup.

New Zealand then hosted England at home in a competitive and compelling series of cricket. New Zealand won a close first test, while the second was unforgettable, with Gillespie and Mills putting on 126 for the last wicket, ensuring a drawn test with scores level. New Zealand lost the 20-20 match and the ODI series 3-2 - though, again, after winning the first.

The side travelled to the West Indies and were involved in another tight series. The test match series was tied 1-1 though New Zealand won the second by just one run. Franklin was particularly successful throughout the two tests. The ODI series was lost 2-1, after yet again winning the first match.

Top Five Test Match Batting Averages:
P.Fulton 959 runs @ 73.77
K.Mills 348 runs @ 58.00
M.Gillespie 110 runs @ 55.00
J.Oram 663 runs @ 47.36
J.Franklin 574 runs @ 41.00

Top Five Test Match Bowling Averages:
J.Franklin 40 wickets @ 28.72
D.Tuffey 7 wickets @ 30.29
C.McMillan 2 wickets @ 38.00
S.Bond 36 wickets @ 38.92
D.Vettori 20 wickets @ 53.00

Top Five ODI Batting Averages:
B.McCullum 685 runs @ 57.08
M.Sinclair 958 runs @ 45.62
C.McMillan 860 runs @ 43.00
P.Fulton 937 runs @ 39.04
S.Fleming 914 runs @ 38.08

Top Five ODI Bowling Averages:
S.Bond 48 wickets @ 24.29
D.Vettori 32 wickets @ 27.81
K.Mills 20 wickets @ 31.70
J.Oram 24 wickets @ 35.37
J.Franklin 24 wickets @ 41.12

The problems throughout the year appeared to be based on a lack of bowling strength and back-up. Franklin took 40 test match wickets at a reasonable average of 28.7 but Bond and Vettori averaged 38.9 and 53 per wicket respectively. Ironically Bond and Vettori were the two top bowlers based on ODI averages, with Franklin taking only 24 wickets at 41.1. Fulton's 300* boosted his test match batting average for the season to 73.8 and he also managed 39 in ODIs - slightly disappointing given his sensational World Cup form. The focus for 2008/09 will therefore no doubt be on bowling and finding enough support for the main three from the 2007/08 season. Bruce Martin (1 test match wicket at 168), Mark Gillespie (7 at 60.6) and Mills (6 at 66) all proved to be expensive and lacking wicket taking ability for test match cricket. The batting consolidated well throughout the season with a consistent top four of Fulton, Fleming, Sinclair and McMillan. Playing two wicket keepers in Weston and McCullum was successful with both scoring runs in test matches and McCullum particularly successful in the limited overs game. Oram also continued to show his role as New Zealand's world class genuine allrounder.

 

[Graham]

Nice summary!