Eish! Just when things were getting lekker, the rain had to spoil the party! The first T20 between England and New Zealand in Christchurch ended in a washout, leaving fans feeling gatvol. Sam Curran, though, gave us something to cheer about, rescuing England's innings with a cracking knock of 49 not out.
England, led by Harry Brook, were put to the test by some clever bowling and a tricky pitch, managing to post 153-6 in their 20 overs. Jos Buttler and Jacob Bethell also chipped in with valuable runs, but it was Curran's innings that really stood out. He survived a couple of dropped catches and an overturned LBW decision to help England reach a potentially competitive score.
Unfortunately, the weather had other ideas, and New Zealand never got a chance to bat. A real shame, as we were all looking forward to seeing them chase down the target. This series is happening just before the Ashes, which is the main focus for many, but these T20s are important preparation for England ahead of the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka next year.
Curran's Chance to Shine
While the likes of Bethell are hoping to impress ahead of the Ashes, Curran has a golden opportunity to cement his place in the T20 squad. He showed his class with the bat and will be eager to continue his form in the remaining matches.
What's Next?
The second T20 is scheduled for Monday at the same venue, followed by the third match in Auckland on Thursday. After that, there are three one-day internationals to look forward to. Let's hope the weather plays ball and we get to see some proper cricket!
- Second T20: Hagley Oval, Monday
- Third T20: Auckland, Thursday
- Three ODIs to follow