Birthday special: BJ Watling – 3 match saving knocks by New Zealand’s keeper
New Zealand wicketkeeper BJ Watling retired from international cricket after the final of the World Test Championship in 2021. He was an integral part of the Kiwi squad for the past 10 years. On the occasion of his 38th birthday today. Let’s look at three match-saving knocks from his Test career.
120 vs England, 2015
This match was played during the New Zealand tour of England in 2015. The visitors scored 350 runs in the first innings with the help of fine knocks from Luke Ronchi and Tom Latham. In response, England also scored 350 runs with Adam Lyth smashing a hundred.
In the second innings, New Zealand lost the first 4 wickets for 141 runs, but BJ Watling played a crucial knock to help the team post 454/8. He scored 120 runs off 163 balls. In the fourth innings, England were dismissed for 255 runs, chasing 455 runs, and lost the match by 199 runs.
142* vs Sri Lanka, 2015
This was the second Test of Sri Lanka tour of New Zealand in 2015. The Sri Lankan team won the toss and asked the hosts to bat first. New Zealand could score only 221 runs in the first innings with captain Kane Williamson scoring 69 runs. In response, Sri Lanka scored 356 runs with the help of a double hundred from Kumar Sangakkara.
The hosts were under tremendous pressure now having conceded a big lead of 135 runs in the first innings. However, Kane Williamson and BJ Watling stepped up for the Kiwis in the second innings. New Zealand scored 524/5 with the help of a double hundred from Kane Williamson and a 142-run knock from BJ Watling. The visiting team got all-out for 196 runs in the fourth innings, losing the match by 193 runs. Watling played a key role in helping rescue the team in this Test match.
124 vs India, 2014
This was the second Test of India tour of New Zealand in 2014. The hosts were dismissed for only 192 runs in the first innings after they were asked to bat first. India piled up 438 runs in response and took a massive lead of 246 runs. In the second innings, the Kiwi team lost the first 5 wickets for only 94 runs, and it looked as if they were going to lose by an innings.
However, Brendon McCullum and BJ Watling played excellent knocks to save their team. McCullum smashed a triple hundred (302), while Watling scored 124 runs off 367 balls. New Zealand were able to post a total of 680/8 in their second innings. This match ended up in a draw.
