File picture of New Zealand’s Colin Munro, who announced his retirement from international cricket
| Photo Credit: Action Images via Reuters

New Zealand’s Colin Munro, a bruising top-order batter, on Friday announced his retirement from international cricket after he was not included in the national team for the upcoming T20 World Cup.

Munro played one Test, 57 ODIs and 65 T20Is for the Kiwis amassing a total of 3,010 runs, but it was in the shortest format the left-hander made a name for himself.

In T20Is, he struck runs at an impressive 156.44 and the 37-year-old remains one of the handful of players who have made upwards of 10,000 runs across all T20 competitions.

The Durban-born cricketer has made 10,961 runs from 428 T20s, averaging 30.44 and striking at 141.25.

However, Munro’s final game for New Zealand came back in 2020 when he appeared in a T20I game against India at Mount Maunganui.

“Playing for the Black Caps has always been the biggest achievement in my playing career,” said Munro in his retirement statement.

“The fact that I’ve been able to do that 123 times across all formats is something I will always be incredibly proud of,” he added.

Munro said it was the right time to bid adieu to top-level cricket.

“Although it has been a while since my last appearance, I never gave up hope that I might be able to return off the back of my franchise T20 form.

“With the announcement of the Black Caps squad for the T20 World Cup now is the perfect time to close that chapter officially,” he said.

Could not find a place: Gary Stead

New Zealand coach Gary Stead had said that Munro’s name came up for discussion while picking the squad, but could not find a place for him eventually.

However, he will continue to ply his trade in various T20 leagues across the world.

Munro has some fine records against his name as his 14-ball 50 at Sri Lanka at Eden Park in 2016 still stands at the fastest T20I fifty by a New Zealand batsman, and the fourth quickest of all time.

He also has a 47-ball century against the West Indies to his credit in 2018, and at that time it was the fastest T20I hundred by a Kiwi, which also made him the first player to score three T20I tons.

New Zealand’s Kane Williamson in action day 2 of the second Test against Australia in Christchurch on March 9, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AP

Kane Williamson gave the fans what they came for with a fighting half century in his 100th test Saturday on the second day of the second test between New Zealand and Australia.

After his first innings ended in disappointment, Williamson delivered in his second with his 34th test half century from 105 balls in a 105-run partnership for the second wicket with Tom Latham.

The pair steered New Zealand from 6-1 to 111-2, erasing Australia’s first innings lead of 94, before Williamson was out for 51.

At stumps New Zealand was 134-2 and led by 40 runs. Latham was 65 not out, his highest test score against Australia, and Rachin Ravindra was 11.

“They are quality bowlers and obviously the pitch has offered a little bit throughout, so it’s nice to put together a bit of partnership and hopefully tomorrow we can put a few more on there and have another go,” Williamson said.

“They made it tough out there. There’s a bit in the surface, a bit of bounce. But credit to Tom Latham, he led the way and has played beautifully.” From the start, the test at Hagley Oval has had the sense of a pilgrimage for fans who came to pay tribute to Williamson and New Zealand captain Tim Southee in their 100th tests.

Williamson received a standing ovation on his way to crease in New Zealand’s first innings on the first day Friday. He made only 17 as New Zealand was bowled out for 162. Southee made 26 which was the third-highest total in the New Zealand innings.

Marnus Labuschagne returned to form Saturday with an innings of 90 in Australia’s first innings of 256 as the tourists took that 94-run first innings lead. Matt Henry took 7-67 for the second seven-wicket bag of his career and his second five-wicket haul of the series.

New Zealand was 6-1 in its second innings when Williamson walked to the crease, again to a standing ovation.

The banks and bleachers of Hagley Oval have been packed on both days and at Williamson’s appearance have risen as one to acclaim. On Saturday, Australian fans in gold and New Zealanders costumed as lifeguards or cavemen or storybook characters — it was “dress-up day” — were equal in their ovation.

This time Williamson lived up to the welcome and his innings helped New Zealand balance the match after Australia held the upper hand on the first day and the start of the second.

Australia resumed Saturday at 124-4, needing just 38 runs to match New Zealand’s first-innings total. Labuschagne was 45 not out and nightwatchman Nathan Lyon was 1.

Lyon frustrated New Zealand by making 40 as nightwatchman in the first innings of the first test which Australia won by 172 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the two-test series.

He repeated the dose, making 20 in a 51-run partnership with Labuschagne which carried Australia within four runs of the New Zealand total.

Labuschagne went on to a half century from 90 balls — his first in his last six test innings. He was closing on his first century in 15 innings when he fell for 90 in the last over before lunch.

Henry took three of the four wickets that fell before stumps on day one and added four more without threatening his career-best figures of 7-23, also achieved at Hagley Oval, his home ground.

Mitchell Starc made 28 and captain Pat Cummins 23 as Australia boosted its lead to 24.

New Zealand had a major setback when it lost Young in only the third over of its innings. But Latham and Williamson stayed together for the next 36 overs and when they finally were separated, New Zealand held a slim 17-run lead.

The crowd cheered every aspect of Williamson’s innings, acknowledging each of his six boundaries with prolonged applause. The din was even greater when Williamson followed Latham to his half century in 153 minutes.

Latham reached the mark from 110 balls and Williamson attained the milestone minutes later.

He finally was out, playing wide of his body at a ball from Cummins that ducked back a fraction, took the inside edge and cannoned onto his stumps. Williamson left, again to a standing ovation.

Latham, on 59, was dropped by wicketkeeper Alex Carey off Josh Hazlewood 15 minutes before stumps. The edge was flying towards Usman Khawaja at first slip but Carey dive across and couldn’t hold the catch. (AP) AM AM AM

New Zealand’s Mitch Santner leaves the ground after losing his wicket during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup match between New Zealand and South Africa in Pune, India, on November 1, 2023
| Photo Credit: AP

New Zealand leave Pune sore and sorry after notching up their third World Cup defeat in succession against South Africa and with a mounting injury toll weighing on their chances of reaching the semi-finals.

Pace bowler Matt Henry is unlikely to feature in Saturday’s crunch match against Pakistan after injuring his right hamstring in the 190-run thumping by the Proteas on Wednesday.

Kyle Jamieson has been called up from New Zealand as cover for Henry and should arrive with the squad late on Thursday, the team said.

Jimmy Neesham is nursing a bruised right wrist after being struck by the ball while bowling in the first innings.

While an X-ray cleared him of broken bones, selectors may have little choice but to play the all-rounder given injury queries over Mark Chapman (calf) and Kane Williamson (thumb), who were ruled out of the South Africa game.

Paceman Lockie Ferguson, meanwhile, is nursing a right Achilles injury, though he was cleared of significant damage by a scan and selectors hope he will be available for Pakistan.

“It’s sad to see guys get injured but at the same time it gives people other opportunities as well,” all-rounder Daryl Mitchell told reporters.

“We’re a pretty close group and we back each other and we’ve done it for a long period of time now.”

After winning their first four games in a perfect start, the Black Caps have crumbled against India, Australia and the Proteas. They now cling to fourth place in the standings, two points ahead of Pakistan.

The top four reach the semi-finals.

The heavy defeat to South Africa has also seen their run-rate take a major hit and another big loss against Pakistan could see the south Asians leapfrog them into the top four.

Having won the toss against South Africa, captain Tom Latham surprised by electing to field against opponents that often struggle to chase down totals.

Not that Glenn Phillips was questioning the captain’s call after South Africa put 357 for four on the board.

“Obviously South Africa are incredibly strong batting first, but we’ve got an incredibly good bowling line-up and there was no reason that we couldn’t have restricted them to a total that could have been a lot easier to chase on there,” said the middle order batsman.

New Zealand can ill afford to slip up again but are confident their World Cup fate remains in their hands.

Wins in the last two matches against Pakistan and Sri Lanka should be enough for the semi-finals.

“We’ve got our own brand and if we stick to it, we know that we’re fighters, we keep coming back time and time again, and when it matters most, we really put the foot down,” said Phillips.