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Kyle Jamieson’s incredible test start shows no signs of abating, but neither does Pakistan’s ability to stay with the Black Caps as another fascinating cricket test looms.
If anything, Jamieson seems to get more menacing with ball in hand, a daunting prospect for opposing hitters and quite remarkable when you consider that bowling was essentially an afterthought for him until about seven years ago.
The 26-year-old’s astonishing start to international cricket continued in Test 2 against Pakistan at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Sunday, when he broke the first order of tourists in a devastating pre-lunch spell and finished 5-69 out of 21. overs, a third bag of five wickets in his first six tests.
Kai Schwoerer / Getty Images
Kyle Jamieson is congratulated by his teammates after dismissing Haris Sohail during the first day of the second test match between New Zealand and Pakistan at Hagley Oval.
Pakistan, predictably sent to bat when local captain Kane Williamson won the toss, fought hard, again, and is probably happy to have done 297 in tough batting conditions, especially after Jamieson’s first strikes sent them reeling with 88- 4 at lunch.
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The graceful Azhar Ali, who fell seven runs short of an 18th century testing, led the resistance, pairing with captain Mohammad Rizwan, who scored a spirited 61, for an 88-run fifth-ground partnership, and then placed another 56 for the sixth field. with Faheem Ashraf (48) before he took one from Matt Henry.
Jamieson was easily the choice of New Zealand bowlers. Tim Southee (2-61), Trent Boult (2-82) and Henry (1-67) pitched better than their numbers suggest and ultimately were unlucky enough to beat the bat regularly and find a lot of edges in the ravine area.
Southee and Boult cleaned their tail with the new ball, while Pakistan, who hit positively throughout the day, was immediately fired.
Kai Schwoerer / Getty Images
Kyle Jamieson had an early hit for New Zealand against Pakistan at Hagley Oval on Sunday.
New pair of Southee balls, who got the breakthrough early when Shan Masood missed a full inswinger and got caught up front by a duck, and Boult were proving, as was Henry, that he should have picked up Faheem Ashraf’s wicket earlier, but Ross Taylor hit a fastball -sliding opportunity early.
However, Jamieson was just a different perspective, sending the ball from 2.04m and getting a strong rebound at good length. Annoying all the hitters and kept the slip cord, and Henry Nicholls in the gully, in play at all times.
It seemed like a matter of time before he got the rewards, and they got strong and fast.
Kai Schwoerer / Getty Images
Azhar Ali dropped seven runs less than a century for Pakistan against New Zealand at Hagley Oval on Sunday.
Abid Ali (25) was the first to succumb, beating Jamieson against Southee on the third slip, before Haris Sohail’s decision to knock out too late, the ball caught the bottom of the retreating bat and went straight to Nicholls in the ravine.
The ball of the day landed the first test century maker, Fawad Alam, for one, a short delivery to the body that took off and caught Alam in the glove, the ball inflated up to goalkeeper BJ Watling as Alam. he was turned on his back in the failed attempt to get out of the way.
It was Jamieson again who was the man who broke the Azhar-Rizwan partnership, catching the captain on his second spell, before eliminating Ashraf, Taylor’s second catch of the day, to complete his five-for.
All the pregame hints were that Hagley Oval would suit him perfectly, and as it turned out, his record of 30 wickets at 14.33 in the middle of his sixth test tells a compelling story.
The man who was a first-rate hitter when he came to Christchurch from south Auckland to take a Lincoln University scholarship seven years ago, said in an interview with Stuff last summer: “I’m still a long way from where I want to be as a bowler and a cricketer… in the next year I think I’m going to make great strides. There is still much more to come. “
He seems to be keeping his word.
