New Zealand stand-in skipper Tom Latham yesterday said that fast bowler Matt Henry’s stellar performance in the opening Test against South Africa has created a selection dilemma ahead of the second match next week.
Playing his first Test in eight months only because Trent Boult is away on paternity leave, Henry claimed 7-23 in the first innings to set up New Zealand’s victory by an innings and 276 runs at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.
The right-arm pacer finished with nine wickets to go with an unbeaten 58 at No. 11 that fetched him the man-of-the-match award.
Photo: AFP
Boult is set to return for the final Test and has been a key cog in New Zealand’s preferred four-man pace attack, which also includes Tim Southee, Kyle Jamieson and Neil Wagner.
“It’s a great problem to have I think in terms of guys who are pushing their case for selection and guys stepping up when they take their opportunity,” Latham said. “We’ll have to assess that over the coming days, but they’re certainly good discussions to be having.”
Latham has seen Canterbury teammate Henry produce similar displays in domestic cricket and was not surprised with the 30-year-old quick’s latest heroics.
“We certainly know what a valuable member he is of this side and I guess for him to turn up and probably know he’s going to be playing, to bowl the way he did” was outstanding.
New Zealand missed regular skipper Kane Williamson through injury and are without batsman and former captain Ross Taylor, who quit Test cricket after the Bangladesh series.
They still wrapped up victory in seven sessions in what was their first Test in 14 years without at least one of Williamson, Taylor or Boult.
“It’s great for the side. It’s been documented that it’s a long time ago since we hadn’t seen any of those three names,” Latham said of the squad’s strength in depth. They were “such a vital part of the side and it’s testament to the depth that we’re creating in New Zealand cricket that guys who haven’t played a lot can step up and come and perform straight away.”
The hosts claimed the last seven South Africa wickets in an extended morning session on day 3 yesterday, with Tim Southee (5-35) the wrecker-in-chief.
Dean Elgar’s side folded for 111, marginally better than the 95 they scored in the first innings.
Temba Bavuma’s 41 was the top score by a South Africa batter.
In contrast, Henry Nicholls smashed 105 and Tom Blundell narrowly missed a hundred the only time New Zealand batted, scoring 482.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
One of Malaysia’s top soccer clubs has pulled out of today’s season-opening Charity Shield after a spate of assaults, including an acid attack, on players in the country. It leaves the kickoff of Malaysia’s season this weekend under a cloud following the unprecedented acts of violence against players, which have left the country shocked and angry. Authorities said they have imposed tighter security, but Selangor said that they would not play in the showpiece curtain-raiser against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats.” Selangor and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim is in intensive care