Here’s your round-up of from the latest round of World Cup warm-up fixtures on Monday, October 3 where England faced Bangladesh and New Zealand played South Africa.
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New Zealand v South Africa
New Zealand won by seven runs (DLS method)
The Black Caps were able to post another score in excess of 300 after chasing 346 in less than 44 overs against Pakistan last week. Devon Conway continued his imperious form with an unbeaten 78 off 73 balls before he retired to allow other batters to test their form. There was good news on Kane Williamson’s fitness: he hit 37 off 51 balls before he, too, retired. Tom Latham scored a fifty as well, while Glenn Phillips scored 43 off 40 as New Zealand posted 321-6 off 50 overs.
Marco Jansen and Lungi Ngidi split the wickets between them, taking three apiece. South Africa used nine bowlers, including Heinrich Klassen, with their spinners proving to be fairly expensive.
Quinton de Kock was the positive for South Africa as he scored an unbeaten 84 off 89 balls. Reeza Hendricks fell for a duck in the first over of their chase, to a brutally swinging delivery from Trent Boult. Hendricks was opening to cover for captain Temba Bavuma, who had to temporarily return to South Africa before the start of the tournament, leaving Aiden Markram in charge.
Despite a half-century from Rassie van der Dussen, South Africa were short when the rain arrived. With no further play possible, New Zealand were declared the winners by seven runs with South Africa having scored 211-4 off 37 overs.
A fine knock from Quinton de Kock in South Africa’s final warm-up match before they begin their World Cup campaign, but South Africa fall short by 7 runs on the DLS method.
New Zealand have won 2/2 from their warm-up matches ahead of their opening game against England.#CWC2023 pic.twitter.com/Wf9Pp6r8cw
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) October 2, 2023
Boult picked up Klaasen as his second wicket, and was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 2-20 in five overs. Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi picked up a wicket apiece.
England v Bangladesh
England won by four wickets (DLS method)
The defending champions came into the match after their first game against India was completely washed out, while Bangladesh beat Sri Lanka last week.
Reece Topley got off to a difficult start, bowling two no balls and conceding eight runs before being able to send down a legal delivery, but recovered well to take two wickets for five runs in his next two overs to finish with 3-23.
Rain interrupted Bangladesh’s innings after 30 overs when the score was 153-5, and the match was reduced to 37 overs a side. David Willey took two wickets in two balls to dismiss Mehidy Hasan Miraz for 74 before getting Nasum Ahmed for a duck. Sam Curran, Chris Woakes and Adil Rashid were also in the wickets to give England’s bowlers a good run out before their tournament opener on Thursday.
Bangladesh finished on 188-9, and England’s target was adjusted to 197 in 37 overs. Dawid Malan did not replicate his form in England’s recent bilateral series against New Zealand and was out in the first over of the innings. Jonny Bairstow hit a quickfire 34 off 21 balls before he was bowled by Mustafizur Rahman.
Harry Brook and Jos Buttler both got starts but couldn’t kick-on as England faltered, slipping to 114-5, but Moeen Ali hit a fiery 39-ball 56, including six sixes, to get England within four of their target. Joe Root played the situation completely differently to the rest of his side’s gung-ho approach to finish unbeaten on 26 off 40 and hit the winning runs.
Runs: 56
Balls: 39
Sixes: 6Explosive from Moeen Ali in England’s final warm-up match 💥#CWC2023 pic.twitter.com/p5Yd0Ow7eq
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) October 2, 2023