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Seifert’s half-century and Clarkson’s late push for an unlikely win proved futile for New Zealand

Danyal Rasool27-Apr-2024It got a little hairy at the death, but Pakistan just about managed to salvage some pride in this series, scraping to a 9-run win to level the T20I series 2-2. Babar Azam’s 43-ball 69 and late fireworks from Fakhar Zaman saw Pakistan post 178, the third successive time that has been the first innings total this series.But New Zealand were looking like they would make short work of the chase despite the early loss of Tom Blundell, but Pakistan’s bowlers hit back hard in the second half of that chase, with 4-30 from Shaheen Shah Afridi and crucial middle-overs strikes from Usama Mir derailing a chase that had looked on course until the eight-over mark. Josh Clarkson’s unbeaten 26-ball 38 kept New Zealand’s interest alive right till the death, but he would run out of partners with a pair of frenetic final-over run-outs as Pakistan edged through in a tight contest.Babar Azam stamps his authorityIt may not solve any of Pakistan’s problems or address the underlying causes of criticism Babar receives, but there’s little doubt the impact the Pakistan captain’s knock had on Pakistan today was decisively positive. Saim Ayub has struggled for runs this series, and his early dismissal shunted Babar into a position of even greater prominence in this Powerplay, and he marked the moment by taking the attack to Zak Foulkes and Ben Sears, racing to 30 off 15.Babar Azam powered Pakistan’s fast start•AFP/Getty Images

Crucially, there wasn’t a pronounced post-Powerplay slump as Babar held one end up while keeping the runs ticking over, and looking in great touch in the process. A huge six off Ish Sodhi as Fakhar Zaman took his time to bed in ensured the visitors couldn’t build too much pressure on Pakistan, and by the time Sears cleaned him up with a stunning yorker, the infrastructure that allowed Pakistan to lift off had been constructed.Fakhar tees off after good fortuneShould Fakhar have been dismissed before the most explosive phase of his innings got underway? Tim Seifert certainly thought so. Fakhar was beaten by a slower delivery as he tried to heave it towards midwicket, and was casual as he regained his shape, with his bat hanging loosely behind him as it tipped the bails off.New Zealand appealed and the umpire referred it upstairs, but the third umpire deemed the ball to be dead by then. New Zealand’s frustration was compounded as Fakhar plundered 14 off the next three balls to set Pakistan up for a big finish. Shadab joined in as well as the hosts took 39 off the last three overs, as well as some of the momentum going in at the halfway stage.Tim Seifert, Powerplay fireworksPakistan have spent much of this series engaged in a familiar debate about how best to utilise the Powerplay. Two days ago, New Zealand opener Tim Robinson gave them a glimpse into how to go about it. Today, his replacement, another Tim – Seifert – illustrated it just about perfectly once more.Pakistan had kept things tight the first three overs, but by the time Mohammad Amir came in to bowl, Seifert launched. He picked the leg cutter early and clobbered it over long-on for a colossal six, before following it up with a pair of boundaries that got the visitors going. Abbas Afridi, too, saw his first ball launched out of the ground, and another loose delivery clipped around fine leg. Amir would return for more punishment as Seifert smashed him for three boundaries off the back foot to race along to a 30-ball half-century. It wasn’t until he was dismissed that the game began to turn; by then, New Zealand had raced along to 81 in eight overs.Spin strikes backUsama had a torrid fourth game and with a surfeit of legspin options for Pakistan, time to impress was fast running out. He’d laid a solid platform, conceding just three in the first over as runs rained all around him, but this was his moment to shine. Seifert lost his shape as he tried to slog it over the onside and found his furniture disturbed in the process. It would end up being a wicket maiden that changed the course of the game as Mir cleaned up Chapman in his following over. Shadab Khan and Imad Wasim got in on the act with wickets in the following two overs as Pakistan burrowed deep into the New Zealand lower order.Shaheen would have his say to effectively kill the game off with two wickets in two balls as New Zealand lost 6-40 in 39 balls. They would never recover from that barrage of body blows, and Pakistan would salvage a series draw despite Clarkson’s best late efforts.

Tagenarine Chanderpaul made more runs and the visitors had a chance of victory on the final day

AAP26-Nov-2022Incapacitated Raymon Reifer and gritty Joshua Da Silva declined to chance their arm at notching the West Indies’ first first-class win on Australian soil in more than 25 years, instead defending grimly to fight out a draw in the pink-ball tour match against the Prime Minister’s XI at Manuka Oval.Chasing 309 for victory after the PM XI’s sporting declaration at 221 for 4 late on day three, the tourists shut up shop at the fall of the eighth wicket with eight overs to go.Da Silva started aggressively before putting up the shutters in the last hour, while Reifer remained unbeaten off 26 scoreless balls. Not expected to bat due to a groin injury, Reifer did not even look to score, declining even the easiest singles hit to the outfield.Related

• Tagenarine Chanderpaul boosts Test hopes with Canberra century

• 'I try and be myself, I can't be him' – meet Tagenarine Chanderpaul

• Renshaw nudges the selectors with unbeaten century

West Indies’ most recent first-class win in Australia came in the fifth Test of the 1996-97 battle for the Frank Worrell Trophy.Courtney Walsh’s tourists – piloted by Brian Lara’s century and Curtly Ambrose’s seven wickets – thumped Mark Taylor’s side inside three days at the WACA.”It was just the right time,” PM XI captain Josh Inglis said of his generous declaration late on Friday which paved the way for the nail-biting finish. “We wanted to set up the game, which made today really exciting.”It’s a great occasion. Every time you’re gearing up for international cricket, it’s a great challenge. And to play against an international side is great. I think our boys had a really good week.”All results were possible when the West Indies entered the dinner break at 221 for 5, requiring a further 88 runs for victory off a minimum of 31 overs.The last session started horribly for them when Roston Chase succumbed after just three balls, beaten in flight by Ashton Agar, miscuing and lofting a catch to Joel Paris at mid-off.West Indies batted out the final few overs•Getty Images

The pendulum swung the tourists’ way when Da Silva and Alzarri Joseph combined for an enterprising 48-run seventh-wicket stand.Joseph, who swung lustily and impressively, was grassed on 24 by Aaron Hardie in the slips before guiding Mark Steketee to Michael Neser at gully four overs later.When Steketee had Kemar Roach gloving a short ball to Peter Handscomb at slip, the West Indies fell to 273 for 8 and duly parked the bus.Tagenarine Chanderpaul was named player of the match for his fine double innings (119, 56), which should surely earn him a Test debut against Australia at Optus Stadium, starting on November 30.”It was nice to get some runs,” the softly spoken Chanderpaul said. “I knew it was going to be tough…just happy to get some runs.”Matthew Renshaw (81, 101 not out) and Handscomb (55, 75) hurtled themselves into contention for international recalls with their contributions for the home side.

Fresh from ODI century, batsman scores 63 before hosts bowl Essex out in time to win first leg of double-header

ECB Reporters Network16-Jul-2021Hampshire kept alive their flickering hopes of reaching the Vitality Blast quarter-finals beating Essex by 18 runs to wrap up a third successive victory in the first match of a double-header at the Ageas Bowl.Essex looked on course to chase down the 172-run target after England batsman Dan Lawrence and Tom Westley put on 80 for the second wicket, only for Hampshire’s bowlers to claw back control as the Eagles lost nine wickets for just 68 runs to be bowled out for 153.Hampshire started the match well after winning the toss, with James Vince, fresh from his fine century for England against Pakistan, continuing from where he left off at Edgbaston with a superb 63 that included eight boundaries and a six. Vince and D’Arcy Short put on 69 after eight overs, laying the foundations for a potentially huge target.However, the Eagles fought back well when Aron Nijjar dismissed Short and Liam Dawson inside three balls to slow down the home side’s progress.Vince continued to score freely and put on a 56 with Colin de Grandhomme before the Hampshire skipper mistimed a big shot over mid-off off spinner Simon Harmer and caught in the deep by Jimmy Neesham.De Grandhomme fell for 34 when the veteran Ryan ten Doeschate took a sharp catch off Sam Cook’s bowling in the 16th over as the Hawks’.hopes of passing the 180-mark took a huge dent.The outstanding Harmer and Nijjar continued to slow down the scoring with wickets falling regularly as Joe Weatherley, Chris Wood and James Fuller all exited cheaply.Lewis McManus thumped two huge sixes in the final two overs to help his side to a decent total despite the Hawks losing two wickets in the final over to Cook..Wood struck in the first over of the Essex innings, dismissing former Hampshire wicket-keeper Adam Wheater for a second-ball duck,before Lawrence and Westley steadied the ship. But Westley, who reached 39 almost effortlessly, was then deceived by the flight of a Mason Crane ball and McManus whipped off his bails for a smart stumping.Dawson and Short continued the good work by the spinners with the wickets of the dangerous Neesham and Michael Pepper for single-figure scores.Crane struck again to dismiss ten Doeschate for nine when he holed out to James Fuller after 15 runs had been scored from the first five balls of the leg-spinner’s over.But Essex’s hopes of victory dissipated when Lawrence departed for 60 after he gloved Scott Currie to McManus, who claimed his third victim.
With 31 needed from the last two overs, Essex fell well short with Brad Wheal taking two wickets in as many balls to dismiss Essex with four deliveries to spare.

Dane van Niekerk and Marizanne Kapp enjoyed fine all-round performances as England struggled with the bat

The Report by Andrew McGlashan23-Feb-2020In her 100th T20I, Mignon du Preez struck a six in the final over as South Africa held their nerve to secure just a third victory over England in the format in what could be a very significant result early in the World Cup.It was a thrilling end to a chase that South Africa won and lost on multiple occasions in the closing stages, before it came down to needing nine off the last over bowled by Katherine Brunt. The first two balls went for singles before du Preez swung that six over fine leg then clubbed a sweep through square leg (which got to the boundary, but by then the batters had crossed for what was the winning run, so it counted as a single*) to set off wild South African celebrations.The bulk of the chase was put together by a stand of 84 between captain Dane van Niekerk and Marizanne Kapp, but both fell in the space of five balls as England threatened to turn it around.However, it was with the bat where England really let themselves down as they laboured to a total that, while not that far from being enough to win, was an unconvincing way to start their tournament except for Nat Sciver’s half-century. South Africa, though, were outstanding with the ball and, in the end, it did not go waste.A dramatic final fiveSouth Africa needed 34 off 28 balls when England hauled themselves back into the match through their spin twins Sophie Ecclestone and Sarah Glenn. Glenn had Kapp caught and bowled and in the next over, without a run added, the pressure told on van Niekerk as she sliced Ecclestone to point. England squeezed to such an extent that the target blew out to 33 off 18 balls. The 18th over, from Sciver, went for 14 to reignite South Africa’s hopes and when Chloe Tryon, who had struggled to middle the ball, cleared the fence off Ecclestone it came down to nine off eight. Amy Jones then missed a stumping chance only for Ecclestone to spear one through Tryon (who would have been lbw without scoring had England reviewed in the 17th over) meaning Brunt had nine to defend in the last. The third ball of the over was dropped short enough for du Preez to get far enough underneath it to clear the rope. Finally, that was the game.Allrounders stand tallAlthough for a moment it appeared their fine work would come to nothing, Kapp and van Niekerk had outstanding days. Kapp got South Africa up and running by ending a lively start from Jones in an exceptional display which included 12 dot balls across her four overs. With the bat she produced the shot of the match when she drove Brunt off the back through the off side on the final ball of the powerplay. Van Niekerk had gone for just five an over in four overs, without conceding a boundary, and claimed the key wicket of the in-form Heather Knight. While her innings was never quite at the tempo to emphatically put the chase to bed, she twice sent Anya Shrubsole for six and at the end of the contest could reflect on one of the better wins of her captaincy career.Pace and varietyShabnim Ismail only managed one wicket, when Brunt carved to third man, but her performance was another reminder of the priceless commodity of pace she brings to the South Africa attack. She clocked in at 125kph and regularly pushed 120kph, forcing the England batters back in their crease. As a whole, South Africa’s attack was always offering something different to contend with. It was a surprise to see left-arm spinner Nonkulueko Mlaba bowl the first over – and it cost nine as Jones started positively – but although she was the most expensive there wasn’t a weak link, to the extent that Sune Luus wasn’t even required.Sciver salvages EnglandFor a significant part of her innings, Sciver found the going as tricky as the rest of the England batting but crucially fought through and was there to catch up towards the end. From having 24 off 29 balls, she then collected 26 off her next 12 balls which included the lone six of the innings when she deposited Mlaba over wide long-on. She also brought out the scoop – a shot favoured by a few of the England batters – and her half-century came up off 40 balls. However, she was defeated by an excellent slower ball from Khaka which prevented her taking advantage of the final two overs. In a match of such fine margins, that could well have proved crucial.*

Shahid Afridi’s 25-ball 39 not out sealed an opening win for Comilla Victorians off the penultimate ball

Mohammad Isam06-Jan-2019

How the game played out

Shahid Afridi’s unbeaten 39 took Comilla Victorians to a four-wicket win against Sylhet Sixers. While the result was sealed off the penultimate ball – with Afridi sweeping Alok Kapali for a four through fine-leg – Victorians were in control of the 128-run chase, first through the efforts of Tamim Iqbal and, later, Afridi.Tamim had held the chase together with his 35, shepherding the side through a few early wickets, before falling in the 17th over with 31 still needed. Afridi, along with Mohammad Saifuddin, added the required runs in only 3.2 overs, with Afridi hitting five fours and two sixes in his 25-ball knock. Steven Smith, who led Victorians, had fallen in the ninth over for a 17-ball 16, out caught behind following a review.The Sixers paid the price for their sluggish batting and early wickets in the first half of their innings. The innings got a push only after Nicholas Pooran cracked five fours and two sixes in his 26-ball 41 and Pooran’s sixth-wicket stand with Alok Kapali took them past the 100-run mark. Mohammad Saifuddin, Mohammad Shahid and Mahedi Hasan took two wickets each, apart from giving away only 59 runs in their combined 10 overs.

Turning points

• Pooran and Kapali added 55 runs for the sixth wicket after the Sixers slipped to 56 for 5 in the 12th over.
• With 31 runs required off 22 balls, Tamim Iqbal was run-out at the non-striker’s end after Shahid Afridi refused him a single.
• Taskin Ahmed conceded 15 runs from the 18th over, that included a six over cover, reducing the target to 12 off the last two overs.

Star of the day

Before partnering Afridi in the final overs, Saifuddin had contributed with the ball, with returns of 2 for 13 in three overs. He bowled two overs at the death, keeping the Sixers’ batsmen down with several slower balls, some being yorkers.

The big miss

Sixers’ captain David Warner’s innings lasted only 13 balls before he was run-out for 14 in the fifth over, after a mix-up with debutant Towhid Hridoy, which left both of them at the striker’s end. Replays, however, suggested that the third umpire may have wrongfully given Warner out instead of Hridoy, as the latter had his bat out of the crease at the striker’s end when Shoaib Malik broke the stump at the other end.

Where the teams stand

Victorians would be pleased at having completed the opening win with their experienced squad. Sixers, on the other hand, may feel hard done by despite getting a competitive score.

Concerns over Moeen Ali’s fitness continue to cloud England’s preparations ahead of the day-night Test in Adelaide

George Dobell in Adelaide01-Dec-20173:34

The cricket should be the main focus – Root

Concerns over Moeen Ali’s fitness continue to cloud England’s preparations ahead of the day-night Test in Adelaide.While the England captain, Joe Root, confirmed that Moeen would play whether he was able to bowl or not, concerns over his spinning finger – cut in Brisbane and now blistered – have raised questions over how much he will be able to bowl and how effective he may be.Moeen cut his finger within his first few overs in Brisbane. Having bowled little in the warm-up games due to a side strain, his fingers had not sufficiently hardened before the Test and, brought into the attack with a ball just eight overs old, he found the Kookaburra seam quickly left him with a cut. While he played down the extent of the problem after the game, he was comprehensively out-bowled by the Australia spinner, Nathan Lyon.Moeen only delivered four overs in the second innings in Brisbane and has not bowled in training since. But he will have a long bowl in training on Friday, with the England management and medical team seeing how his finger reacts before making a decision over team selection. While Moeen is confident he will be able to bowl, there has to be some doubt as to how many revolutions he will be able to put on the ball and, as a result, how effectively he can perform.England have not sent for a backup spinner – the likes of Jack Leach – from the Lions squad, which suggests they are confident in Moeen’s recovery.”At the end of practice we’ll have a clear indication if he’ll be fit to bowl throughout the game,” Root said. “If there’s any more damage to it then we’ll have to make a decision.”His batting has been a huge part of this team for a long time now, so I think he would still play as a batter.”Saqlain Mushtaq inspects Moeen Ali’s injured finger•AFP

Whatever happens, it remains likely that England will stick to a team containing four seamers, with Moeen and Joe Root sharing the spin bowling duties. The conditions in Adelaide – it is a day-night match and the weather is currently overcast – are expected to provide a little more assistance for seamers.But Root has not ruled out a debut for 20-year-old legspinner Mason Crane, who impressed the England management with his temperament in the warm-up games.”It’s definitely not out of the question,” Root said. “It’s important we take everything into consideration at the end of practice. We’ll look at Moeen, see how bad his finger is and look at the conditions.”There is also theory that the seam of the pink ball is harder to pick-up under lights, which renders legspinners, in particular, harder to read. In the previous two day-night Tests at Adelaide the visiting teams have given debuts to spin bowlers – New Zealand picked left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner here for the first time in 2015 and South Africa picked left-arm wrist-spinner Tabraiz Shamsi last year – and England could follow suit.It was a point made previously by Steve O’Keefe, Australia’s left-arm spinner. “The hardest thing for batsmen is to pick up the seam on the pink ball,” he said in 2015. “When spinners bowl, it can be difficult at times to see the seam or the revolutions through the air, which certainly helps. All the spinners who have bowled with the pink ball in Adelaide have generally had success.”Kookuburra have adapted the ball to aid visibility. While the version used in the first day-night game had four green and two white seams, the one used here will have six black seams which has increased the contrast against the pink surface and should improve visibility.If Crane did play, it would probably be in place of Jake Ball as England cannot afford to lengthen their tail any further. Stuart Broad and Ball both look a place too high at No. 9 and No. 10. Not for the first time, the absence of Ben Stokes – who could bat in the top six and provide the fourth seam-bowling option – is causing Root a headache.

West Indies Women cricketers on retainer contracts with the WICB are set to receive enhanced compensation packages from October 1, including increases in annual retainer fees and match fees

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Sep-2016West Indies Women cricketers on retainer contracts with the WICB are set to receive enhanced compensation packages from October 1, including increases in annual retainer fees, sponsorship payments, match fees and captains’ allowances. The number of women on retainer contracts will also be increased to 15, from the current 11. The estimated increase will cost the WICB just under US$600,000 for the upcoming year.Captain Stafanie Taylor, who led their victorious World T20 campaign earlier this year, welcomed the move.”I believe we are stepping in the right direction. England and Australia are the two top teams where women’s cricket is concerned and I think we can mirror what they are doing and get on their level,” Taylor said. “It’s good that the retainers and match fees have been increased and the girls love it. We hope that, as time goes by, more things will be improved.”Former captain Merissa Aguilleira also lauded the development. Noting the team’s hard work and success, Aguilleira added that “an increase like this will only encourage [the team] to work harder and continue representing the people of the Caribbean to the best of [their] abilities.”The new packages, which emerged from negotiations between the WICB and the West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA), were hailed by both parties. WICB CEO Michael Muirhead said that the packages would “serve as an additional incentive for the current set of women” and also “serve as a drawing card to more women to be attracted to cricket”. WIPA president and CEO Wavell Hinds said the enhanced packages were “well deserved” given the women’s teams’ performances over the past decade.West Indies Women’s next international assignment is a home five-match ODI series against England in October. The last three ODIs of the series will count towards Women’s Championship points, offering the sides the chance to seal their spot in next year’s World Cup in England. West Indies are currently second in the Women’s Championship, behind Australia.

A list of stories and videos on the subject of Michael Clarke’s retirement from cricket

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Aug-20152015August 24
Mark Nicholas – Clarke pulls his final few tricks
August 23
Ian Chappell – Clarke second only to Taylor as captain
News – Clarke’s parting plea for better Test pitches
Press conference – ‘I didn’t let the emotions get to me’ – Clarke
August 22
Daniel Brettig – Lyon is Clarke’s greatest legacy
August 19
News – ‘I can’t wait,’ says Clarke on retirement
Daniel Brettig – Clarke’s career ever so near to greatness
Simon Barnes – Where’s the love for Clarke?
Russell Jackson – A fan’s notes
Brydon Coverdale – Gutsy in Cape Town, resilient in Adelaide
Video – Clarke’s chance for glorious finale
Press conference – Clarke looking to finish on a high
Clickbait – The Michael Clarke highlights
August 18
News – Clarke leaves behind a ‘legacy of aggressive, entertaining cricket’ – Mark Taylor
Illustrated report – ‘A bloody good bloke to boot’
Gallery – Clarke’s career in photos
Video – Chappell: Tactically, Clarke was second only to Taylor
Video – Boycott: Australia won’t miss Clarke because of his recent form
August 14
Numbers Game – The highs and lows
August 11
News – ‘Baggy green culture eroded under Clarke’ – John Buchanan
August 10
Video – Chappell: Not surprised Clarke’s career has been a short one
August 9
Press conference – ‘Clarke will be remembered for courage’ – Sutherland
August 8
Jarrod Kimber – A battle for greatness and love
Press conference – ‘Been lucky enough to captain Australia’ – Clarke
Video – Ponting: Clarke put his heart and soul into the game
News – Clarke removes captain’s mask
News – Clarke announces retirement after Ashes
Video – Brettig: Clarke left with little choice
By the numbers – A statistical look at Clarke’s recent poor form
August 7
Video – Australia fans call for Clarke’s retirementAugust 5
News – Clarke is not retiring
August 4
News – Stubborn Clarke digs his heels in

The ECB has set April 22 as the date to hear Danish Kaneria’s appeal against the lifetime ban for involvement in fixing handed down to him by a disciplinary panel last year

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Feb-2013The ECB has set April 22 as the date to hear Danish Kaneria’s appeal against the lifetime ban for involvement in fixing handed down to him by a disciplinary panel last year. A first hearing was adjourned in December after initial legal submissions.Kaneria, who has been in London since December, is appealing against the ban, along with the £100,000 costs that were imposed on him. Despite being found guilty of corruption in relation to the Mervyn Westfield spot-fixing case, Kaneria has continued to deny his involvement and previously called for the appeal to be heard in front of an independent panel.The legspinner was barred from playing for the Pakistan national side in 2010 and the PCB has said that it would stand by the sanctions imposed by the England board, as the ICC’s anti-corruption code mandates. Kaneria’s ban from all cricket currently stands, pending the appeal result, and he has not played since March 2012.Kaneria is Pakistan’s leading Test spinner, with 261 wickets, and fourth-highest wicket-taker overall. He spent several successful seasons with Essex but was arrested in 2010, along with team-mate Westfield. Although no police charges were brought against Kaneria, he was found guilty by the ECB panel of inducing Westfield to under-perform in a 2009 limited-overs match and of bringing the game into disrepute.Westfield was jailed for four months for his part in agreeing to concede a set number of runs in an over during a CB40 match against Durham, in return for £6000. He was also banned for five years by the ECB, but can play club cricket after three.

Brendon McCullum has said BJ Watling has got “natural ability” as a wicketkeeper, and has backed him to do well with the gloves in New Zealand’s one-off Test against Zimbabwe

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Jan-2012Brendon McCullum has said BJ Watling has got “natural ability” as a wicketkeeper, and has backed him to succeed in New Zealand’s one-off Test against Zimbabwe in Napier.McCullum kept wickets for New Zealand in 51 Tests but in 2010 he decided he wanted to play as a specialist batsman. Since then Gareth Hopkins and Reece Young have played in the role, but New Zealand are now looking for a new Test wicketkeeper. Watling, who played six Tests as a batsman, will have an opportunity to prove he can fill the position long term.McCullum said the fact that Watling had only played two first-class games as a keeper was a concern but not a major one. “The only thing you worry about is if he [Watling] has got the volume under his belt. But none of that matters; if he gets a go we’ve got to get right behind him.”I know he’s got the skills to do it and I guess everyone will be taking a punt on the fact that he can handle the workload as well. He’s certainly got some natural ability. It’s just about him getting back to keeping for long periods. I’m sure he’ll do well. It’s not a bad deck to start on as well.”Ross Taylor, the New Zealand captain, said they had decided to pick Watling ahead of the other keeper in the squad, Kruger van Wyk, even before Watling scored 84 in the practice game against the Zimbabweans.”I guess every time you select someone there’s the hope they take the spot and can fill it for years to come,” Taylor said. “I think BJ always had the inside running. The way he kept in Gisborne was promising and he had a good knock with the bat in the first innings. It was always going to be BJ but it was nice to see him score some runs and keep pretty well.”Taylor also said New Zealand would not relax after beating Australia for the first time in 26 years, in Hobart in December last year. “We’ve got to build on the momentum we’ve gained from the Hobart Test,” he said. “We don’t want to dine off that for years to come; we know we created history but we want to get consistent performances. What better place to start than our first home game of the season.”New Zealand will use the same combination in Napier as they did in Hobart, with Daniel Vettori at No. 6 and four quicks in the side. McCullum said that line-up suited New Zealand’s style of play.”I like that balance; it allows the batters to play with a bit more freedom knowing they’ve got an attack that can bowl a team out,” McCullum said. “The formula for us winning Test matches consistently could well be similar to the formula we had over there [in Hobart]; play four seamers and have a little bit in the wicket.”We probably will not have high-scoring 400-500 games, but games more along the lines of trying to eke out 280-300, or if you bat well you get 350-400.”