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O'Rourke and Ravindra Shine in New Zealand's Narrow Loss in Galle

O’Rourke and Ravindra Shine in New Zealand’s Narrow Loss in Galle

By September 23, 2024 0

New Zealand’s recent Test match in Galle against Sri Lanka ended in a narrow 63-run defeat, marking their fifth consecutive loss at the venue. However, two players emerged as bright spots for the Kiwis: seamer Will O’Rourke and batter Rachin Ravindra.

O’Rourke, making his first appearance in the subcontinent, impressed with his pace and accuracy. Despite the dry conditions, he consistently bowled at speeds of 140kph and sent down short deliveries that troubled the Sri Lankan batters. His eight wickets for 104 runs, including six top-order dismissals, earned him praise from captain Tim Southee.

“Will’s had a very short Test career so far, and he’s certainly announced himself,” Southee said. “He’s got the skills to have a very good Test career. For him to come to his first Test in the subcontinent and walk away with a very impressive eight wickets for the match is nothing short of special.”

Ravindra, on the other hand, showcased his batting prowess with a gritty 92 in the fourth innings. Facing a challenging pitch and a tall target of 275, he played with composure and determination. His ability to punish loose deliveries and keep the scoreboard ticking impressed Southee.

“Rachin kept us in the hunt with that chase,” Southee said. “It was a great knock in those conditions. It’s not easy to bat – the ball was spinning, and doing all sorts [of things]. For a young guy without a lot of experience in this part of the world to go out and get 90-odd was great signs for him as well.”

Despite the loss, Southee identified the team’s batting collapse on the third morning as a turning point. After reaching 255 for 4 overnight, New Zealand lost six wickets for 71 runs, allowing Sri Lanka to gain a crucial advantage.

“The last four or five fell for not many, and there was an opportunity to get a bigger first-innings lead,” Southee said. “If we were able to press on and get more of a lead, things could have been different.”

Overall, the match highlighted the potential of O’Rourke and Ravindra while also exposing areas for improvement in New Zealand’s batting. As they prepare for the next Test, the Kiwis will look to build on the positives and address the shortcomings that led to their defeat in Galle.

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O'Rourke's Five-Wicket Haul Gives New Zealand Edge in Galle Test

O’Rourke’s Five-Wicket Haul Gives New Zealand Edge in Galle Test

By September 19, 2024 0

New Zealand’s bowlers wrapped up Sri Lanka’s innings for 305 on the second morning of the first Test in Galle, with Will O’Rourke claiming a five-wicket haul.

Resuming on 302 for 7, Sri Lanka added just three runs before being dismissed. O’Rourke trapped Ramesh Mendis lbw for 14 and then bowled Asitha Fernando for 0 to complete his five-for. Ajaz Patel also picked up a wicket, dismissing Prabath Jayasuriya for 10.

O’Rourke’s 5 for 55 was his second five-wicket haul in four Test innings, while Ajaz and Glenn Phillips finished with two wickets each.

Rain interrupted the morning session, delaying the start of New Zealand’s innings. Only one over was possible before rain intervened again, forcing the players off the field.

Lunch was taken after just 15 minutes of play, with New Zealand trailing by 300 runs. More rain is forecast for the day, but an extended post-lunch session and a longer third session have been scheduled to make up for lost time.

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Will O'Rourke Wreaks Havoc in Test Debut in Asia

Will O’Rourke Wreaks Havoc in Test Debut in Asia

By September 18, 2024 0

Will O’Rourke, the towering New Zealand fast bowler, made an immediate impact in his first Test outing in Asia, tormenting the Sri Lankan batters with his pace and bounce.

In his opening spell, O’Rourke unleashed a barrage of bouncers, reaching speeds of over 140kph and extracting uncomfortable bounce from his 6’4″ frame. His first Test wicket on the continent came from a bouncer, as experienced opener Dimuth Karunaratne, rattled by O’Rourke’s previous deliveries, edged one to the wicketkeeper.

Pathum Nissanka, who had scored a century in his last Test innings, was dismissed by an even more impressive delivery, a rapid yorker that he failed to bring his bat down on in time, resulting in his stumps being shattered.

O’Rourke’s success in his first outing in dry conditions defied the expectations of many foreign seamers who often struggle in such conditions. “Me and Tim Southee as the pace bowlers have the role to be aggressive and bowl quick and unsettle people,” O’Rourke explained.

In his first five-over spell, O’Rourke claimed two wickets for 26 runs. “We probably wanted to have a bat first, but we had a bowl, and Tim and I were getting good carry, so the communication was to run in hard and hit the deck hard,” he said.

O’Rourke’s third wicket was particularly impressive. He induced a sharp rise from the pitch to strike Angelo Mathews on the index finger, forcing him to retire hurt. When Mathews returned to the crease, O’Rourke dismissed him with another short, sharp delivery, which Mathews fended at from an awkward position.

“It’s very special being this early on in my career bowling to legends like Angelo Mathews,” O’Rourke said. “One ball maybe jumped and caught him on the finger and unsettled him a little bit. It’s special to be able to bowl to greats like him and lucky enough to get his wicket at the end.”

O’Rourke, in his third Test, is also benefiting from the mentorship of Tim Southee, who has a wealth of experience in Sri Lanka. “Having Tim as captain is awesome,” O’Rourke said. “Getting him at mid-on, or even third slip when he comes over and gives you a wee pointer – that’s a big part of our team and a big part of helping me out.”

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New Zealand Edge Pakistan by Four Runs in Lahore T20I

New Zealand Edge Pakistan by Four Runs in Lahore T20I

By April 26, 2024 0

New Zealand’s disciplined bowling attack, led by Will O’Rourke and Ben Sears, proved too strong for Pakistan in the third T20I in Lahore, securing a four-run victory and a 2-1 series lead.

Chasing 179, Pakistan lost early wickets and struggled to keep up with the required run rate. Fakhar Zaman’s spirited 61 kept Pakistan in the hunt, but his dismissal and that of Iftikhar Ahmed in consecutive overs sealed their fate. Imad Wasim’s late surge kept the game alive, but Jimmy Neesham’s tight final over denied Pakistan the victory.

Earlier, New Zealand had posted 178 for 7, thanks to Tim Robinson’s explosive 51 and Tom Blundell’s quickfire start. Pakistan’s bowlers, particularly Abbas Afridi, fought back in the middle overs, but New Zealand’s bowlers held their nerve in the end.

Abbas Afridi impressed with his accurate bowling, taking 3 for 20, while Shadab Khan made a stunning catch in the field. Sears and O’Rourke, both making their T20I debuts for New Zealand, played a crucial role in restricting Pakistan’s scoring and taking key wickets.

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O'Rourke Doubtful, Wagner Recall Possible for New Zealand in Second Test

O’Rourke Doubtful, Wagner Recall Possible for New Zealand in Second Test

By March 4, 2024 0

New Zealand’s pace attack faces a setback as Will O’Rourke’s hamstring injury casts doubt on his availability for the second Test against Australia. Captain Tim Southee hinted at a potential recall for veteran Neil Wagner, who retired last week but remains in the squad.

Southee ruled out Trent Boult due to his recent focus on white-ball cricket. However, he left the door open for Wagner, saying, “We’ll see how Will scrubs up and we’ll go from there.”

Australia’s Pat Cummins expressed readiness for Wagner’s return, calling it “the world’s shortest retirement.” He praised the energy and short-ball prowess of the 37-year-old.

Cummins lauded Nathan Lyon and Cameron Green for their match-winning performances in the first Test. Lyon’s six-wicket haul on day four sealed Australia’s 172-run victory. Green’s career-high 174 on day one set up a decisive first-innings lead.

New Zealand’s Glenn Phillips impressed with his all-round contributions, scoring 71 in the first innings and taking 5-45 in the second. Southee and Kane Williamson will reach the milestone of 100 Tests in the second match at Hagley Oval.

The final morning of the first Test saw New Zealand collapse from 111-3 to 196 all out. Lyon’s spin proved too much for the hosts, while Green’s short-ball tactics also paid dividends.

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Wagner Recall Possible for New Zealand in Christchurch Test

Wagner Recall Possible for New Zealand in Christchurch Test

By March 3, 2024 0

New Zealand’s Test captain Tim Southee has hinted at the possibility of recalling veteran fast bowler Neil Wagner for the second Test against Australia in Christchurch. The move comes after Will O’Rourke suffered a hamstring injury during the first Test in Wellington.

O’Rourke left the field during the third day of the match with tightness in his left hamstring. He did not return to the field for the remainder of Australia’s second innings, but he did bat on day four and was able to run between the wickets.

Southee admitted that New Zealand may have made a mistake in their selection for the first Test, opting for four fast bowlers on a pitch that offered more spin than expected. Hagley Oval in Christchurch, the venue for the second Test, is traditionally more favorable for pace bowling.

If O’Rourke is ruled out, New Zealand do not have a fourth seamer in their squad. Wagner retired from international cricket after being told he would not be selected for the Australia series. However, with New Zealand trailing 1-0 in the series, Southee did not rule out the possibility of recalling Wagner.

“We haven’t had a lot of discussions as yet,” Southee said. “We’ll see how Will scrubs up. The physio hasn’t sort of put a timeframe on it or how bad it is. We’ll just wait and see how Will goes over the next couple of days. I’m sure there’ll be an update in the next 24 hours.”

Southee ruled out the possibility of recalling Trent Boult, who has been playing only T20 cricket in recent times. He also defended the performance of Scott Kuggeleijn, who took two wickets in the first innings but conceded 75 runs in 20 overs.

Southee identified Cameron Green’s 174 not out and his 116-run 10th-wicket stand with Josh Hazlewood on the second morning as the turning point in the match. He conceded that New Zealand’s strategy against Green was flawed.

“I think we probably could have tried to get Green out on that second morning,” he said. “I think the way he played that that night before, we thought he was probably going to come out and play some shots. But we probably could look to get him out and on that second morning and make things slightly easier than what we did.”

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