Curran shines before rain ruins T20 opener

Christchurch’s first T20

England 153-6 (20 overs): Curran 49* (35), Buttler 29 (25)

New Zealand: Did not bat.

Match was discarded

Before the first game of their winter tour washed out by rain in Christchurch, Sam Curran saved England’s innings.

In the opening T20, Harry Brook’s side battled canny bowling and a difficult pitch to post a 153-6 lead, but the bad weather prevented New Zealand from beginning their chase, which gave them a sluggish start to a low-profile white-ball series.

England named three members of their squad for the Ashes tour’s upcoming match at the Hagley Oval, and the announcement comes just one month before the highly anticipated Ashes tour.

However, Curran, an unnamed player, was the most effective as he hit 49 not out of 35 balls to lift England from 81-5.

The Hagley Oval will host the second T20 on Monday, beginning at 07:15 BST, before Auckland’s third game on Thursday.

It is understandable that this series is not as popular as the Ashes.

However, this was England’s first of six T20s before the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka kicks off in February.

While Bethell, who struggled in a fine straight six before falling to a top edge for 15, has the opportunity to play against Australia, Curran is one of those who has the most in store for him in the run-up to the World Cup.

The 27-year-old offers a second seam-bowling option in Brook’s favour in the batting-heavy side and was selected for the first time in any format under coach Brendon McCullum last month.

After seeing Bethell, Buttler, Jordan Cox, and Tom Banton chip catches into the air with ease on a surface that nipped for the quick bowlers and held for the spinners, Curran was fortunate to be dropped on 14 by bowler Jacob Duffy and Tim Robinson, who had 26 at deep extra cover. Both chances were straightforward.

In a final over, Curran took seamer Duffy for 19 and continued to bat for the impressive left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner for one six over long-off.

We obviously want to change the situation and the surface, but with the depth of our batting we have, we can do it all.

Mitchell Santner, the skipper of New Zealand, said, “The boys started very well with the new ball.” A respectable performance was made.