Was a good game in the end. It actually came pretty close. I'll start with some positives and then let all the negatives flow (there were a lot)
Firstly the new stand is very nice, they closed the other one off I think which was smart because the crowd was pathetic. I don't think it's got to do with ODI cricket dieing, I just think Bangladesh had played pathetically in the first 2 games and also that the game was a dead rubber.
Southee bowled excellent. Was really good today, especially hitting the yorker length. He had good control. It's just a shame he can't bowl like this every game. The pitch looked very flat despite the weather which has been a bit drizzley the last few days so his figures were outstanding.
Vettori showed his class. He kept himself til later and it paid off big time. Spin was for sure the best bet today. Guptill even bowled really well I thought.
Guptill in the field was outstanding. He probably saved 10 runs on his own. Was great to watch. Then his innings with the bat bar the way he got out was excellent. He played some nice shots straight down the ground. I was really angry when he got out though. He really did give his wicket away. I mean, caught on the extra cover boundary was stupid. He needed to be hungry for the milestone. I'm sick of out batsmen constantly throwing wickets away in the 70s, 80s and 90s. He wasn't gotten out, it was a terrible mind explosion and it almost put us in the ████.
Last positive was great to see Bangladesh turn up. Kayes played very well. He was streaky early but once he got into it was great. Shakib bowled really well too though he got a few gifts towards the end. He was the shining light in Bangladesh's bowling.
Negatives time.
Firstly Butler once again leaked runs. He's so expensive though like the last game sometimes he gets wickets. I think we would have been much better off with Nathan McCullum but oh well. I wouldn't select Butler for the Australian series. His batting at the end was important and got us home, but the bowling was not good.
Second point to bitch about was Oram not bowling more overs. He was bowling really well. Even Guptill. Maybe those guys should have been given more overs and Butler less.
Thirdly was great to see Franklin bowling well but now it seems he's injured again because he batted with a runner. He showed good maturity not panicking with the bat though.
Lastly we played far too recklessly. We were like, 70/1 after 10 overs when Bangladesh decided not to take the power play and then things went badly. Ingram's lack of foot movement didn't hep his cause, but hey i'm not going to call for him to be sacked yet, that's 1 innings. He can have more chances. Taylor's wicket was a disgrace. For the vice captain to gift a wicket like that was not a good example. The field was back, Taylor needs to settle down. You can see it building in him that he needs to hit a six. It's not good. He's been consistent for us lately which is great but he needs to play the patience game too. Hopefully he learns before the test match.
Vettori also holed out. The man had just been put back and he'd smashed the bowler for a six and 2 fours in a row. Did not need to go again. He looked god at 5 though.
Broom looked terrible from ball one. He hit a few good balls but really he looks terrible and out of place. Oram's dismissal was SOFT. He'd just hit a six and then just lobed one lazily.
Was the worst of the 3 performances from us I thought. The pitch was very good, shoulda been an easy chase and it was easy until we capitulated all by our own doing,
Lets hope lessons are learned.
Ross just can't hold back from slogging on the leg side.
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