Cricket: 'Death' bowling still a work in progress

Andy McKay and Tim Southee get a chance to shine tomorrow. Photo / Getty Images

The margins by which New Zealand have won their opening ODI matches against Bangladesh can't be disputed.

First it was 146 runs in Napier, then five wickets at Dunedin on Monday - which included a couple of soft late wickets before the winning runs.

So Bangladesh have asked few searching questions of New Zealand ahead of the arrival of the big-ticket item, Australia, later this month.

But it hasn't all been one-way traffic.

Take New Zealand's bowling.

At Napier, chasing an improbable 337, Bangladesh's openers Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes merrily banged away putting on 71 in 10 overs against New Zealand's new ball pair, Daryl Tuffey and Tim Southee.

At University Oval the top end worked a treat, but it was the latter stages of the innings which caused New Zealand some head scratching.

Wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim and allrounder Naeem Islam, who put on a Bangladesh record 101 for the seventh wicket, inspired a late flurry when the tourists whacked 92 in the final 10 overs - 59 off the last five.

Tuffey and Ian Butler bore the brunt of it, sharing the last six overs. Tuffey's overs cost 35 runs; Butler went for 36.

Bowling at "the death" isn't to every bowler's liking. It requires skill, the ability to adjust in a blink to a batsman's manoeuvrings around the creaseline and, just as important, nerve.

New Zealand coach Mark Greatbatch admitted yesterday it is a work in progress.

"You need to have multiple guys who can bowl at the death," he said.

"You almost want all your seamers to [be able to] bowl then, and it's a real focus area to improve on."

Others have been tried in the closing overs, including the injured Kyle Mills, who generally did a solid job, and Southee, who will share the new ball with Andy McKay in tomorrow's final ODI in Christchurch.

Southee might still occasionally wake in a sweat after getting a terrible flogging from India's heavy hitters at Christchurch last season.

His 105 off 10 overs included 49 being taken from his last three in the closing stages.

Speedster Shane Bond should be back to face Australia and would seem the likely name at the top of the list for one end in the final passage of the innings.

McKay, although he's probably still doing his "Hi, I'm Andy McKay" routine to his new international teammates, is another who might get an opportunity.

The point about this concern is that Australia are certain to be more punishing if New Zealand don't get their act right at an important stage of the innings.

"It's a real work-on, not just now but going forward," Greatbatch said, with the World Cup 12 months away in mind.

Tuffey will sit out tomorrow's game because of a minor hamstring twinge, his place in the 12 going to offspinner Nathan McCullum.