Black Sticks miss out on Games spot
Key batsmen get workout in Canberra
TWO goals in the opening six minutes have ended the New Zealand men’s hockey team’s Rio Olympics dream.
The two early strikes – one by Glenn Turner and the second by Jamie Dwyer – set Australia up for a 3-2 win in the Oceania Cup hockey tournament final in Stratford yesterday.
The win in the trans-Tasman clash dashed any hopes of the Black Sticks men’s team had of qualifying for the Rio Olympics, given they had to win in Stratford to qualify. The Australians booked their tickets to Rio earlier in the year.
New Zealand pulled one goal back early in the second quarter when James Coughlan drilled one home from the top of the circle.
But they couldn’t find the equaliser, with Trent Mitton giving Australia a two-goal buffer at 3-1. It was a cruel blow for the Kiwis who seconds earlier should have been awarded a penalty corner after the ball hit the foot of an Australian defender in the circle.
A Kane Russell goal gave the Kiwis some hope with seven minutes left but NEW ZEALAND’S cricketers will head to Sydney largely satisfied with their three days of toil in Canberra after key batsmen Kane Williamson and Brendon McCullum got important time in the middle yesterday.
In a two-day match where just four wickets fell across two innings, the Black Caps shook hands at 368-8 at stumps in reply to the Cricket Australia XI’s total of 325-4 declared. On a flat one at Manuka Oval, 12 batsmen were either retired out or unbeaten as they couldn’t find the all-important equaliser to pitch the game into a penalty shootout.
Black Sticks coach Colin Batch said it was a tough pill to swallow.
‘‘It’s very difficult. We didn’t start well and played catchup the whole game,’’ he said. ‘‘We showed a lot of composure to come back.’’
Hatch said the side showed plenty of courage to fight back to trail 2-1 in the second quarter.
‘‘Then they scored against the run of play and that hurt. Clearly we were the best side in the last quarter, but time ran out for us. We didn’t get the result, but we deserve to be in Rio. The boys are hurting.’’
Blacks Sticks captain Simon Childs said his players gave it everything. ‘‘We played some of our best hockey today, but Australia are a class side. ‘‘
Australian captain Mark Knowles admitted it was a tough week for his side having already qualified for Rio.
‘‘We train to put a lot of pressure on the opposition and that’s what we strive to do. We always play to win.’’
Fiji claimed third when they beat Samoa 11-1 after leading 4-0 at halftime in the playoff match. the bowlers found little to get excited about with the red Kookaburra.
The tourists head to Sydney where they play their only official first-class match against another selection XI starting on Thursday at Blacktown, where coach Mike Hesson has said he would play a shadow test side ahead of the series opener in Brisbane on November 5.
Williamson and McCullum got the most out of Sunday’s 82-over innings against an attack featuring just one test contender, seamer Peter Siddle.
New Zealand’s prolific No 3 breezed to 68 off 80 balls before he was retired, before McCullum arrived for his first bat of the tour after sitting out Friday’s 102-run victory in the pink ball 50-over match.
McCullum didn’t hold back, clearing the rope three times in his knock of 58 off 49 balls before he’d seen enough. Spinner Mark Craig, who took 1-105 off 22 overs on Saturday, also got a good look with 60 off 58 before he headed to the pavilion.
With Friday’s century-maker Tom Latham resting, the only ones to miss out were Martin Guptill and Ross Taylor. Guptill, who will partner Latham in the three-test series, had a nine-ball duck when he was skittled by young paceman Billy Stanlake. Taylor scored 16 off 36 before he offered a catch off Jason Behrendorff.
Siddle, contesting the Australian third seamer’s spot with Josh Hazlewood, didn’t trouble the touring batsmen and ended with 0-34 off 13 overs. The Black Caps enjoyed facing likely test allrounder Mitchell Marsh who went for 60 off nine overs.
On Saturday, Joe Burns made a strong case to partner David Warner at the top in the first test with 102 retired while likely test No 3 Usman Khawaja hit 111 not out.