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Neesham, Guptill fire New Zealand to 176 against England
WELLINGTON, Nov 3, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – A rampant Jimmy Neesham and Martin
Guptill carried New Zealand to a competitive 176 for eight after being sent
into bat first in the second Twenty20 international against England in
Wellington on Sunday.
Guptill, at the top of the innings clouted 41 off 21 deliveries, while
Neesham moved the scoreboard with 42 off 22 balls, including four sixes,
before he was removed on the final ball of the innings.
With New Zealand pushing to square the series after losing game one by
seven wickets, Colin de Grandhomme blasted three sixes in his impressive 28
from only 12 balls while Ross Taylor chimed in with 28 but at a slower
scoring rate.
After Guptill and de Grandhomme’s lusty hitting, New Zealand reached the
halfway stage at 96 for three, but tight bowling from Sam Curran and Chris
Jordan put the brakes on scoring as the innings wore on.
Jordan returned figures of three for 23 while Curran took two for 22.
The cluster of newcomers in the England ranks had mixed fortunes with the
ball and six dropped catches, three by James Vince also proved costly for the
tourists.
Saqib Mahmood, on debut, saw his second delivery on the international stage
smacked over the long-on boundary by Guptill and Colin Munro finished the
over with a six over mid-wicket.
Mahmood did claim the wicket of Tim Siefert for 16 but his maiden wicket
came at an expensive 46 runs from his four overs.
Munro faced only three more balls after his huge boundary before he was
trapped in front by a Curran yorker.
Pat Brown, who took one for 33 in his debut in Christchurch two days ago,
proved much more expensive in his second outing, conceding 32 off two overs.
Allrounder Lewis Gregory, who did not get to bat or bowl in his debut in
Christchurch, bagged a wicket with his first ball in international cricket
when he bowled Colin de Grandhomme for 28.
BSS/AFP/MSY/0908 hrs