WTC Final 2021: Guys Aren't Frightened By A Chase Of 5 Or 6 An Over - James Neesham Says New Zealand Won't Mind "Chasing Anything Between 170-200"

New Zealand limited-overs specialist all-rounder James Neesham opines that Kane Williamson’s side will fancy their chances if they are set a target of around 170-200 runs by India to get in a session-and-a-half (that is about 50 overs) on the final day of the ongoing WTC Final in Southampton.

By stumps on Day 5, India lead by 32 runs and have 8 wickets in hand. James Neesham reckons the Kiwi bowlers may bowl India out on Day 6 (Reserve Day) before the second session, and that would give the Black Caps enough time to go after the win. He feels that the side have a few “stroke-makers” who won’t be unnerved about chasing 5 runs an over, as they normally do in ODI cricket.

“It varies, obviously, throughout the day. You know, you have got 10 wickets in hand so the shorter amount of time you’d have to survive if things [go] wrong is kind of the barrier you think about when chasing a total.

“I think, if they can bowl India out for a lead of somewhere between 170-200 in the second session, there’s certainly some stroke-makers in the New Zealand lineup that can score at 4 or 5 [runs] an over in Test cricket without too much trouble,” James Neesham told Spark Sport. 

“So they’ll be looking at chasing anything around that 170-200 mark in a session-and-a-half which would be around 50 overs and with all the ODI skills that come into the game these days, guys aren’t frightened by a chase of 5 or 6 an over which they probably would have been in Test cricket in the past,” he added.

Tim Southee talks about it a lot: James Neesham

James Neesham, who is England playing in the Blast for Essex, reveals that compatriot pacer Tim Southee is enthusiastic about his six-hitting record. Southee smashed a couple of towering maximums in New Zealand’s first innings in his entertaining and crucial knock of 30 runs.

He now has smashed 75 sixes in his Test career; there are only two New Zealanders – Chris Cairns (87) and Brendon McCullum(107) – who have hit more Test sixes than Southee.

“Yeah, he talks about it a lot. I think, maybe [Vettori’s] wicket record is out of his reach so he’ll scan around for something he can get. I think he’s 30-odd sixes behind Brendon McCullum for most in the game. He certainly talks about it and he added another couple to the tally today,” Jimmy Neesham stated.

Also Read: WTC Final 2021: We Would Have Liked A Little More Of A Lead – Tim Southee