Taylor expects more from top order by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Player:	LRPL Taylor
Event:	New Zealand in Sri Lanka 2009

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DateLine: 3rd September 2009

 

New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor has called for more runs from the Kiwi top order after a three-run win against Sri Lanka in their opening T20I.

 

Taylor's innings of 60 off 45 balls set the foundation of New Zealand's modest total of 141 for nine which coupled with some good bowling from Jacob Oram, who grabbed a hat-trick, and Daniel Vettori (two for 11) and excellent fielding from Jesse Ryder was enough to get the visitors their first win on the tour.

 

Apart from Taylor's efforts it was a familiar tale for New Zealand as the remainder of the top five contributing just 59 runs between them, 29 of those coming from Martin Guptill.

 

"The top four or five have got to do the bulk of the batting and score the majority of the runs.

 

"If we can do that then the likes of (Kyle) Mills and Dan (Vettori) hopefully won't even have to have a bat and it puts us in a good position," Taylor told Radio Sport.

 

Opener Jesse Ryder only contributed 13 with the bat but then produced two outstanding pieces of fielding to remove the key figures of Mahela Jayawardene (three) and Tillakaratne Dilshan.

 

Bond in his comeback game finished with figures of none for 27, his final three overs only costing 11 runs as he bounced back strongly.

 

"Any bowler in the world can get smacked around by Dilshan when he's in that type of mood," said Taylor. "The way he came back and the way he fielded it was great to have him back in the side."

 

Taylor also praised Ryder's agility on the field.

 

"He's deceptively agile," Taylor said of his robust team-mate.

 

"Not only to dive and save it but to have a direct hit from that angle only seeing one-and-a-half stumps - not many people around the world can do that."