Watling stumps keeper rivals against Zimbabwe

BEN STANLEY

Former test opener BJ Watling has gained a massive edge in the battle to claim the vacant Black Caps wicketkeeping gloves after a gritty innings against Zimbabwe in Gisborne yesterday.

With the failure of challenger Kruger van Wyk with the bat early on, along with the rest of the New Zealand XI top order, the scene was set for Watling to impress at the Harry Barker Reserve.

And it was a challenge the Northern Districts batsman stood up to, crafting a patient, mature 84 in the Kiwi innings of 272 for 7 declared.

With Black Caps coach John Wright watching, van Wyk failed to take his opportunity to impress in a virtual trial of which keeper had the batting prowess to take the open spot.

The Central Districts gloveman opened but was the second man back in the sheds after only the sixth over, caught behind off young Zimbabwean seamer Brian Vitori for five.

The wickets of Black Caps skipper Ross Taylor (7) and test regular Kane Williamson (26) followed before lunch, with neither taking advantage on what appeared a good batting wicket.

At 59-4, things looked shaky for New Zealand. Enter Watling, who, with Daniel Vettori, pieced together a 55-run fifth before the test veteran fell one short of a half-century, caught by Malcolm Waller off Elton Chigumbura.

Otago all-rounder Sam Wells was next to the crease. The former New Zealander Under-21 representative proved a perfect foil to the graft of Watling, smashing seven boundaries and a towering six in a bold 65-run knock.

The pair put on 125 to get New Zealand out of trouble before Wells went swinging out, caught by Regis Chakabva off Shingirai Masakadza.

Wellington spinner Tarun Nethula (17 not out) hung around with Watling as the Northern Districts man fought towards a century. He wouldn't get there, run out 16 runs short after an innings spanning more than three and a half hours.

Baring a massive knock by van Wyk in the New Zealand XI second innings, Watling will have likely done enough to secure the test gloveman's spot.

With eight bowlers used by Zimbabwe, it seemed that anyone who could hurl the ball down the wicket got a crack with the ball. Seamer Keegan Meth proved the hardest for the Kiwi batsman to get away, claiming 1 for 31 off his 12 overs.

Masakadza also worked hard, capturing two wickets for 36 runs off his 11 overs at the crease before New Zealand declared.

The Zimbabwean openers were able to hold out the near-test strength New Zealand line-up in the final session, finishing the day at 39 without loss. Hamilton Masakadza, captaining the side in the absence of Brendan Taylor, went to stumps safe on 15, while Tinotenda Mawoyo was 23 not out.

Chris Martin was the pick of the Kiwi bowlers, allowing just five runs off his four overs. Otago seamer Neil Wagner and Nethula will get an opportunity to impress today, with only three overs bowled between the two of them.

NEW ZEALAND XI vs ZIMBABWE NEW ZEALAND XI,

First Innings

MG Bracewell lbw b KM Jarvis 0
CFK van Wyk c T Taibu b BV Vitori 5
KS Williamson c T Taibu b SW Masakadza 26
LRPL Taylor b KO Meth 7
DL Vettori c MN Waller b E Chigumbura 49
BJ Watling run out (KM Jarvis/RW Chakabva) 84
SR Wells c RW Chakabva b SW Masakadza 65
TS Nethula not out 17
Extras (lb 5, wd 2, nb 12) 19

Total (for 7 wickets declared, 73.5 overs) 272

Fall: 1-6 (MG Bracewell, 2.3), 2-6 (CFK van Wyk, 5.1), 3-32 (LRPL Taylor, 11.3), 4-59 (KS Williamson, 20.2), 5-114 (DL Vettori, 32.2), 6-239 (SR Wells, 64.4), 7-272 (BJ Watling, 73.5)

Bowling: KM Jarvis 8-4-27-1, BV Vitori 13-1-60-1 (8nb), SW Masakadza 11-1-36-2 (1w, 1nb), KO Meth 12-3-31-1, E Chigumbura 7-0-42-1 (1w, 2nb), AG Cremer 11-2-38-0, MN Waller 2-0-6-0, RW Price 9.5-2-27-0

ZIMBABWE

First Innings

TMK Mawoyo not out 23
H Masakadza not out 15

Extras (lb 0, wd 1, nb 0)1 Total (for 0 wickets, 14.0 overs)39

Bowling: AJ McKay 4-1-18-0, CS Martin 4-2-5-0, BJ Arnel 3-0-10-0, N Wagner 2-0-4-0 (1w), TS Nethula 1-0-2-0

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