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Sam Billings (BF 09)

SAM Billings played his part as England turned a likely defeat to beat New Zealand and win 3-2 in the one-day international series writes David Rimmer.

 

 

 

The series was 2-2 before Saturday’s final game at Chester-le-Street in Durham.

New Zealand looked odds on favourites to win at one stage. After scoring 283-9 from their 50 overs, a lengthy rain delay resulted in England’s innings being reduced to 26 overs.

 

Under the Duckworth Lewis method, their target was 192 to win but they started disastrously as they slipped to 45-5. Then Billings, who attended Haileybury from 2004-2009 and plays for Kent, joined replacement wicket-keeper Jonny Bairstow. The pair added a match-changing 80 for the sixth wicket of which Billings scored 41 from just 30 balls. Billings hit the only six of England’s innings - a majestic sweep over fine leg. Another compelling shot in the Kent player’s innings was an on-driven four in the mid on area - for much older followers this shot was a throwback to the leg-side strokeplay of former England captain Peter May.

 

After Billings went, Bairstow stayed to make 83 not out as England went on to win by three wickets. Ironically, Bairstow only came into the side after number one keeper Jos Buttler was injured and Billings’ claims as a keeper were overlooked. In the previous match, the fourth of the series which England won by seven wickets, Billings did not bat but took a catch.

 

In the first three matches of the series, the Old Haileyburian scored 3, 12 and 34. Billings’ role at number seven is not an easy one, and unless the side loses heaps of wickets at the start of an innings, he is not likely to be in a position to post big scores. However, if he can score more at a rate of more than one run a ball and clear the boundary he could have a useful role to play in England’s one-day cricket. It is a pity Billings cannot bowl but his ability to keep wicket well may be useful if Bairstow and Buttler are unavailable. Buttler also missed a few chances in the four games he played in although his batting effectively won one game in the five game series against New Zealand. Billings will hope to be named in the squad again for England’s next one day series which takes place in September.

 

Originally Written: 23-Jun-2015 09:33, Last Updated: 23-Jun-2015 10:33