MATCH 9: Tim Southee produced the third best bowling analysis in World Cup history and Brendon McCullum hit the fastest World Cup fifty as New Zealand trounced England by 8 wickets in Wellington.
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As the English media are sinking its teeth into what has already been described as “the worst performance in English cricket history,” New Zealand proved their title credentials with their third straight win in as one-sided an ODI contest as you could imagine.
England were dismissed for 123 in only 33.2 overs as Player of the Match Southee produced his country’s best over ODI bowling performance and became only the third Kiwi to take a World Cup five-for as he trampled over a lacklustre England with 7 for 33.
Then, as if to add insult to injury, the Black Caps raced to their victory target in only 12.2 overs as skipper McCullum scorched to 77 in 25 balls. His fifty, a tournament record breaking his own previous best, came in 18 balls and, in all, he hit 8 fours and 7 sixes.
“It was an incredible performance,” said McCullum. “The ability of our bowlers to swing the ball in the air and their performance today was outstanding.
Tim Southee on his way to 7-33 and a New Zealand World Cup bowling record
“The guys really enjoyed playing in front of the huge crowd and they put on a world class show, it was emphatic. Our bowling attack is an amazing tool to have, we are really lucky. Our batsmen will also step up as this World Cup progresses.”
“It’s a bit of a blur at the moment,” Southee added after grabbing his seven wickets. If it’s a blur for the Kiwis, spare a thought for Eoin Morgan’s men who were battered and almost back on the team bus before the scheduled half-time interval.
Morgan himself is struggling. He meandered to 17 off 41 deliveries as his personal form continues to be as worrying as that of his side. At least he won the toss.
It became England’s worse defeat in the context that there were 226 balls remaining in the game. England lost their last seven wickets for 18 runs in eight overs as New Zealand did absolutely everything right, It was brutal.
As McCullum’s boundary count rose the English bowling figures suffered. Steven Finn’s two overs cost 49 runs including four consecutive sixes, while Stuart Broad’s first over disappeared for 18.
In stark contrast, Southee bowled beautifully. His mind, body and skills working in perfect symetry as he bamboozled the English with swing. He took two wickets with the new ball as Ian Bell was bowled by one that left him and took off stump and Moeen Ali was yorked.
Trent Boult put Gary Ballance out of his misery after he stubbed to cover after a 26-ball 10. Morgan, fresh from four ducks in five innings, never looked settled, but at least he and Joe Root hung around. They added 47 for the fourth wicket before Morgan mistimed a lofted shot to a ball from Daniel Vettori and Adam Milne pouched a running catch.
Southee was glorious, but Brendon McCullum steered the ship with relentless aggression. He posted three slips at the start and had four in position by the end. He also is not afraid to attack and as soon as Morgan fell, Southee was back in action. in the 27th over of the innings, to shape the older ball to destructive fashion.
James Taylor was beaten by a yorker, Jos Buttler edged behind and Woakes was not good enough to lay bat on a glorious leg-cutter. Stuart Broad was next, an easy catch offered up to Vettori in the off-side ring and Southee had his seventh victime when Finn edged to Ross Taylor at slip.
Root was the last man out, bereft of partners he was caught by Vettori off the bowling of Milne.
England trudged off, but McCullum was in no mood to take his foot off their throats. Instead he exerted more pressure on the jugular and leaves England barely breathing in the competition. They must beat Scotland in Christchurch in their next game to stay alive.
“I thought New Zealand bowled really well and it swung thought our innings,” said Morgan, England’s beleaguered captain. “Our first two games are our toughest and it was always going to be hard starting this World Cup.
“We need to concentrate on the simple things and hopefully get that win. When Brendon McCullum comes off he is the most destructive player in the world, and credit to him he did that.”
James Buttler
As the editor of World Cricket Badger he is intent on building the website to give quality coverage of the domestic game around the world.
He is also the presenter of the Cricket Badger Radio Show on Radio Yorkshire every Tuesday evening between 7-9pm UK time.
James was the full-time Media Manager at Yorkshire County Cricket Club between 2007 and 2010.
James is a published author, a writer/video contributor to many cricket publications and a complete cricket badger!
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