Inglis saves Australia’s blushes against NZ in T20 World Cup warm-up
David Warner’s first Australian appearance since January lasted precisely one ball, before the team’s new addition Josh Inglis conjured the winning runs against New Zealand in their T20 World Cup warm-up match in Abu Dhabi.
Not since India’s Test series victory was completed at the Gabba in mid-January had Warner and Steve Smith appeared for the national side. In the case of the former, it was the shortest stay possible at the crease – out first ball of Australia’s innings.
David Warner’s international return lasted all of one ball.Credit:AP
Smith fared better in compiling 35 (30 balls), but his dismissal began a slide that highlighted the perils of taking a questionable middle order into the global event.
Sent in to bat, Kane Williamson’s side looked on course for a tally of 180 plus, only to be tripped up in the closing overs on the way to just 158.
Smith and Marcus Stoinis (28) showed little interest in pushing down the required rate during their fourth wicket partnership of 48, leaving their opponents with a chance to win if they could take a few wickets – three duly followed within five balls.
Inglis, who is seemingly consigned to reserve status behind Matthew Wade, then found the boundary from the only two balls he faced to allow the Australians to win by three wickets with one ball to spare.
Resting Glenn Maxwell, Josh Hazlewood and the just-out-of-quarantine Pat Cummins among others, Australia’s team combinations and individual displays were of as much interest as the overall outcome.
To that end, the naming of Marsh at No. 3, Smith at No. 4 and Marcus Stoinis at No. 5 while Wade took the gloves, gave the clearest indicators as to the thinking of the captain Aaron Finch and the coach Justin Langer – also the sole selector on tour.
The Australian bowling effort was uneven, led by an outstanding spell from Adam Zampa (2-17) but without much in the way of effective support until the closing overs of the innings.
Martin Guptill, Daryl Mitchell, Williamson and the allrounder Jimmy Neesham all had effective stays in the middle, while Marsh’s four overs cost an unsightly 53.
Mitchell Starc’s first over was well-directed and dangerous before he offered more to hit as his spell went on, whereas Kane Richardson underlined his credentials in the closing overs by rounding off the innings with figures of 3-24 from his four overs.
Warner’s arrival in the middle gave him his first opportunity for a competitive hit in nearly a month, after he was swiftly discounted from the plans of Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL.
But his presumptuous charge and then finicky drive at Tim Southee resulted only in a thick edge that was pouched wondrously by Guptill, diving to his left from slip – a golden duck.
Marsh’s first ball afforded a far different result, as he strong-armed Southee far beyond the boundary at straightish midwicket, and with Marsh he got Australia as far as 40 before Trent Boult intervened. Finch struggled with timing in a manner reminiscent of his West Indies tour prior to knee surgery, leaving Smith and Stoinis with a sizeable task.
After a few indolent overs through the middle, they found the middle of the bat often enough to appear on their way to victory. But the “safe” singles Stoinis and Smith kept knocking around meant New Zealand were still in touch.
Santner duly found a way through Smith, swiftly followed by Wade sweeping straight to deep square leg second ball. When Stoinis picked out long off the next over, the Australians had lost 3-1 and still required 44 runs from 29 balls.
Agar and Starc came in at Nos. 7 and 8, leaving Inglis to arrive with eight required from three balls to be bowled by the towering Kyle Jamieson. With supreme confidence, Inglis scooped his first ball for four, and edged his second for another to allow the Australians to start their campaign with an unofficial win.
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