Late bloomer Colin de Grandhomme celebrated his first international call-up with record New Zealand debut bowling figures of 6-41 as Pakistan crumbled in their first innings of the opening Test yesterday
New Zealand pacer Colin de Grandhomme celebrates the wicket of Pakistan’s Azhar Ali in Christchurch yesterday. Pic/AFP
Christchurch: Late bloomer Colin de Grandhomme celebrated his first international call-up with record New Zealand debut bowling figures of 6-41 as Pakistan crumbled in their first innings of the opening Test yesterday.
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After the 30-year-old de Grandhomme engineered Pakistan’s collapse to be all out for 133 at Hagley Oval in Christchurch, New Zealand’s other debutant Jeet Raval put them in a strong position to be 104-3 in reply at stumps.
New Zealand made a rocky start to their reply when the experienced Tom Latham, Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor -- with 158 Tests between them -- could muster only 16 runs in total.
But the novice Raval (55 not out) and Henry Nicholls (not out 29 in his eighth Test) added 64 for the fourth wicket to put New Zealand in charge.
The Harare-born, former Zimbabwe under-19 representative is more renowned as a big-hitting batsman. Although he was picked for the all-rounder role ahead of the more experienced Jimmy Neesham in the swing-friendly conditions, he surprised even himself with his performance.
“I was expecting to score more runs than take wickets,” the unassuming all-rounder said. “I just tried to put it in the areas I wanted to bowl and they managed to do their bit so it’s all good.”
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