Zak Foulkes poses for photos with fans following the first T20. Photo / Photosport
The evolving Black Caps T20 team may have unearthed a reliable weapon at the death – “a very level-headed Cantabrian bloke” named Zak Foulkes.
The 22-year-old finished off his side’s comeback victory in the series opener against Sri Lanka, claiming two wickets while conceding five runs in an eight-run triumph at Bay Oval.
And if tonight’s second match is on the line at the same venue, expect skipper Mitchell Santner to again throw the ball in Foulkes’ direction.
Saturday night was his first international on home soil, treating a crowd including his grandparents to a thrilling win. But it was far from his first experience at being entrusted with the late overs while wearing the black cap.
On debut, against Pakistan in April, Foulkes was given the 20th over by then-captain Michael Bracewell. The same was true a couple of days later and the seamer responded with a wicket while allowing seven runs.
Foulkes’ third and fourth internationals were in Sri Lanka last month; asked to bowl the penultimate over on each occasion, he delivered a wicket and 16 runs.
Game No 5 was his most impressive closing effort yet, especially since his initial three overs had come at a cost of 37 runs. But shaking off setbacks is an essential skill in bowling at the death, both for shutting down free-swinging batters and repaying teammates’ faith.
“The way Foulksy closed out that last over, he obviously had a bit of a tough run those first few, and for a 22-year-old he’s got a seriously cool head on his shoulders,” said player of the match Jacob Duffy. “He did the exact same in Sri Lanka – he was pretty clutch there, too.
“He’s a very level-headed Cantabrian bloke, so he’s pretty chill.”
That calm demeanour will be a welcome addition for a team who have lost the death-bowling of Tim Southee – another rather chill character – to international retirement.
It will also be a way to earn further shouts from his skipper in match-winning moments, with Santner’s reign as new white-ball captain having begun in satisfying fashion.
“I was on the boundary and Mitch waved out and said, ‘You’ll bowl the last’,” Foulkes said. “I just had [Matt Henry] and Mitch around me guiding me through it, which was nice.
“It was just being real clear with our plans and our field sets and trying to put as much in favour as possible.”
Foulkes is only the latest Canterbury quick to take command in the New Zealand attack. Along with Henry and the rehabilitating Kyle Jamieson, Will O’Rourke has instantly established himself as a key presence in the test team.
Foulkes now can do likewise in the shortest form, complementing his accuracy with the ball by adding quick runs from No 9.
The series opener against Sri Lanka brought no such opportunity, taking the crease for the final ball of an innings that for long stretches seemed like it would require contributions from the tail. That was before Bracewell and Daryl Mitchell put on 105 for the sixth wicket, sharing a stand that took New Zealand towards a competitive score.
Pathum Nissanka (90 off 60) seemed set to end the competition, before Duffy’s vital three-wicket over in the 14th set the stage for Foulkes to close out an unlikely win the youngster would savour.
“It was awesome to play my first game on home soil and get my first win – a pretty crazy win.” Foulkes said. “We always knew it was going to be tough for batters to start out there. We knew we just needed one, then Duff got three in that over and changed the game.
“That scrappy mentality – you’re never out of it in cricket. It was awesome to scrap our way and get the treats at the end.”
The Alternative Commentary Collective is covering every home Black Caps test this summer. Listen to live commentary here.
Kris Shannon has been a sports journalist since 2011 and covers a variety of codes for the Herald. Reporting on Grant Elliott’s six at Eden Park in 2015 was a career highlight.