[ad_1]
In strife during the second ODI against the Netherlands this Saturday (April 2), New Zealand had their stand-in skipper Tom Latham coming to the rescue. The solid left-hand batter produced a critical hundred for his team when they were staring at potential doom.
The Kiwis were reduced to a horrible 32 for 5, which later turned to 89 for 6. But their captain held the fort when things could easily have fallen apart, scoring an unbeaten 140 off 123 deliveries to take them to a position of relative safety at 264/9 in 50 overs.
This was the left-hander’s sixth ODI century and inarguably one of the most important he has made in his career for New Zealand. If not for Tom Latham’s sedate and immensely crucial hundred, the Kiwis could’ve folded apart and given the Netherlands a straightforward chance to cause an upset in the ICC Super League.
WATCH: Andre Russell Smashes Odean Smith For 30 Runs In One Over
Tom Latham batted superbly for his crucial 140 not out against the Netherlands.
Tom Latham plays exciting sweep to fetch six runs; gets caught in the crowd
Tom Latham guided his team from an end at No.5 through the situation difficult despite insignificant support in an innings where the next highest score was 41 from Doug Bracewell. In an effort marked with solidity and composure, Latham also sent the ball towards the ropes from time to time.
The 30-year-old hit as many as 10 fours and 5 sixes through his marathon innings of 140 not out. The number of sixes being quite high made this a rare knock from Latham, who is known for being New Zealand’s stoic and dependable opening batter in Test cricket.
For one of these maximums, Latham got across a delivery landing wide outside the off-stump and dispatched the ball through mid-wicket with an exhilarating sweep shot. The batter nearly fell on the turf while playing the stroke but had good enough connection to see the ball sailing over the ropes at the Seddon Park in Hamilton where a member of crowd took a good catch.
???? CROWD CATCH ????#SparkSport #NZvNED pic.twitter.com/jw8HYiVIa3
— Spark Sport (@sparknzsport) April 2, 2022
The pacer involved was Netherlands’ best on the day, Logan van Beek, who took a match haul of 4 for 56. But in that moment, even he would’ve been left speechless as Tom Latham got underneath his attempted yorker and smashed it through the on-side.
Made in a situation on his birthday, the knock would’ve been doubly satisfying for Latham, who has attracted doubts from certain corners over his viability in ODIs but continues to prove his naysayers wrong with such quality innings.
[ad_2]
Source link
