John Davison of Canada thwarted the New Zealand attack with the third fastest World Cup 50 in their Group B match at Willowmoore Park in Benoni on Monday and finished with 75 to set his team up for 196 all out in the 47th over in an innings that frustrated the Black Caps.
Davison, a South Australian-based Canadian, hit his 50 off 25 balls in 42 minutes, proving that his World Cup record of 100 off 67 balls against the West Indies at Centurion was no flash in the pan.
Davison’s half-century in ideal conditions was the third-quickest behind Brian Lara’s 50 off 23 balls and fellow West Indies player Wavell Hinds who hit his half-century off 24. Davison got to his 50 with 7x4s and 3x6s. He thrilled the crowd
with three huge sixes — two of which flew over the stands at mid-wicket and all three in one over off the bowling of Jacob Oram.
New Zealand won the toss and sent Canada in to bat which seemed to pay dividends when Ishwar Maraj was out for a duck after being caught lbw by New Zealand quickie Shane Bond in the fifth over. Davison went on steadily through partnerships with Nicholas Ifill who went out for 7 and Ian Billcliff (8) and seemed to settle down with Nicholas de Groot on the way to his century until he lifted a short delivery from Chris Harris to Chris Cairns who caught it neatly on the boundary in the 22nd over. His 75 took in 9x4s and 4x6s.
Canadian skipper Joe Harris attempted a brave middle order stand, but he succumbed to a bouncer from Bond and went out for 26 after nicking it with his hand well above his head which was a gift for wicket keeper Brendon McCullum. He left the field with the Canadians’ backs to the wall at 153 for 8.
Oram got rid of Nicholas de Groot (lbw for 17) and bowled Ashish Bagai for one before he was left limping with a suspected buttocks muscle strain, but that did not stop the lanky all-rounder from bowling Austin Codrington for seven.
At 173 for nine, the pressure was against Canada making 200 with just eight overs left but Ashish Patel took up the challenge with aggression and scored 25 to bring Canada’s score up to within six runs of their highest World Cup score of 202 against the West Indies before he was bowled by Scott Styris. – Sapa