ICC World T20 warm-up: Adil Rashid, Jason Roy star as England beat New Zealand
Mumbai: Although their pacers looked jaded, Eoin Morgan-led side strolled past New Zealand to win their first warm-up game ahead of the ICC World Twenty20 by six wickets at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Saturday.
Adil Rashid (3/15) and Jason Roy (55) sealed England’s win as the Kiwi side faltered despite Kane Williamson’s belligerent 63-run knock.
With the impressive showing in Saturday’s game, Rashid sealed his place in England’s playing XI for when the Poms face West Indies on March 16 here.
New Zealand looked in an absolute hurry as the Kane Williamson-led side zoomed past 100 in the tenth over. However, the introduction of spin derailed the Kiwi innings.
Rashid, who designed England’s comeback after the pacers’ below-par performance, scalped three wickets in his fours overs to pushed New Zealand on the backfoot.
The England spinners (Rashid and Moeen Ali) conceded merely 45 runs in their eight overs and shared four wickets between them.
The England leggie derailed the New Zealand innings after Williamson delighted the crowd with sumptous strokeplay. The Kiwi skipper, in his 39-ball 63-run knock, hit 9 fours and a six.
While there were a few big hits, his innings had touchplay written all over it. However, Rashid removed him in the 13th over, to peg back New Zealand.
Despite crossing 100-run mark in the tenth over and having eight wickets at their disposal, New Zealand were pegged with the introduction of Rashid. Thanks to Rashid, Morgan’s unit conceded just 69 runs in the last ten overs.
Rashid was at his miserly best as he gave away just 15 runs and dismissed Luke Ronchi, Williamson and Mitchell Santner. Moeen Ali, the tall off-spinner, provided Rashid good company.
England were off to a flying start in the chase as Jason Roy attacked from the word go. The diminutive right-hander did not lack power as he cleared the boundary rope with ease. He upped the ante even more as New Zealand spinners came into the attack.
England openers scored 77 runs before Santner removed Roy (55) in the ninth over. However, that did not halt England’s charge as Alex Hales, who was rather subdued in the beginning, opened his shoulders to dominate the Kiwi bowling attack as England needed just 60 runs in the last 8 overs to win the game.
Santer though kept alive New Zealand’s hopes as he sent Joe Root (12) packing. The Yorkshire batsman could not go past Grant Elliott who was manning the long-off area. Alex Hales (44) and Morgan’s dismissal offered Blackcaps some hope but Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes ensured England win the match.
England will now face Mumbai Cricket Association XI in their final warm-up game on Monday while New Zealand, who had won their first warm-up game against Sri Lanka, will travel to Nagpur to take on Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led India on March 15 as Super 10s kick off.
