LONDON: Neil Wagner staked his claim for a place in New Zealand’s Test side against England next week with a five-wicket return as the tourists beat Derbyshire by 107 runs on the third and final day of their opening warm-up match at Derby yesterday.
The 27-year-old left-arm seamer, who troubled England’s batsmen during the recent drawn series in New Zealand, took five for 45 in 18 overs.
However, the South Africa-born seamer was spoken to by umpire Nigel Cowley for hitting opener Billy Godleman in trying to throw down the stumps at the batsman’s end and only apologising belatedly.
Derbyshire, chasing a total of 335 were bowled out for 227 after tea,
Wagner, who appears to be competing with Doug Bracewell for a place in the New Zealand side that will play England in next week’s first Test at Lord’s, found himself being spoken to by umpire Cowley, a former Hampshire off-spinner, after hurling the ball at Godleman’s end when there seemed little chance of a run-out.
Cowley also had a word with acting captain Kane Williamson.
But in his next over Wagner produced a full length ball to have Godleman plumb lbw for 25.
Wagner finished the match when he had Dan Redfern caught behind to set the tourists up nicely for their match this week against the second-string England Lions at Leicester. Meanwhile, England will play a two-day match against a Chairman’s XI in Alice Springs between the first and second tests on their Ashes tour of Australia later this year, Cricket Australia announced yesterday.
The match, originally scheduled for Canberra, will take place on Nov. 29-30 with the England team travelling to and from the Northern Territories by specially arranged direct flights. AGENCIES
