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Nervous wait for Watling

Nervous wait for Watling

01/27/2012 03:55:28 AM

New Zealand batsman-wicketkeeper BJ Watling will be hoping the weather hasn't stymied another Test batting opportunity when play resumes on day three of the New Zealand-Zimbabwe Test in Napier on Saturday.

It was at McLean Park in his Test debut, against Pakistan in 2010, that Watling was batting New Zealand toward a prospective victory over the tourists when rain scuttled the match.

New Zealand needed 208 in 43 overs and were 90-0 from 19 overs with Watling unbeaten on 60 which remains his highest Test score in his 12 Test innings.

When rain swept in again in Napier on Friday, Watling had just posted his second Test half-century and was 52 not out.

Depending on how New Zealand view their chances in the remainder of the game, another prospective big innings may be denied him if the option is to declare.

"We'll have a look at the situation in the morning [Saturday], it might require a few quicker runs or what not. We just need to reassess that tomorrow and see where the game goes.

"I think the next few days are fine so we will back our bowlers to take 20 wickets in the next three days," he said.

Watling said he was disappointed when the rain arrived as he was starting to feel good and creating a good strike rate.

"It's good to get out there and feel good about your game and start hitting a few out of the middle and good to find some form," he said.

It had been good to bat with skipper Ross Taylor as he was leading the way 'brilliantly', he said.

"We were rotating the strike quite nicely and it was a good little partnership there where we kicked on closer to 400 which was good.

"I didn't actually see Ross suffer the injury, I just turned around and he was in a bit of pain so I didn't see what he did. It was obviously disappointing for him, he was going really well and looking to post a big one."

Watling never really felt he needed to make an adjustment from his usual top-order batting role to batting at No.7 for New Zealand.

In the circumstances of the game, coming in around the same time as the new ball was taken, and then having to start again on the second morning had required him to use his opener's methods of handling the situation anyway, he said.

"It was a tough little period last night and I managed to get started again this morning which was good and I took my opening experience into that," he said.

Watling said there could be some fireworks if New Zealand choose to bat on for some quick runs on Saturday morning.

He was batting with Doug Bracewell when play was abandoned, and he said some big hitting could be in prospect if Bracewell managed to get under way.

"He was quite chilled out there and got a few away so if we get started again in the morning you might see some good hitting," he said.

 
Photograph Copyright : Getty Images

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