New Zealand batter Henry Nicholls has been charged with breaking the New Zealand Cricket code of conduct after umpires reported him for tampering with the ball during a local first-class match. The 31-year-old has been an experienced player for the Blackcaps in the longer format of the game.
Watching this week’s Plunket Shield between Nicholls’ Canterbury province and Auckland on television seems to have captured Nicholls scuffing the ball against a helmet during an ends change and it is reported that New Zealand will take necessary actions regarding the matter.
“Nicholls has been reported for allegedly breaching Rule 3.1, article 1.15 of the Code during Day 3 of the Plunket Shield match between Canterbury and Auckland at Hagley Oval,” A Statement said in Espncricinfo.
According to New Zealand Cricket, a first-class cricket commissioner has been tasked with reviewing the accusation. The hearing has not yet been scheduled. Later this month, Nicholls and the New Zealand Test team are scheduled to tour Bangladesh and Nicholls has not responded to the accusation on the issue.
Henry Nicholls guided Canterbury to an eight-wicket victory over Auckland in their match. After Auckland was bowled out for 217 in their first innings, leading scorer Nicholls with 120, Canterbury declared their first innings at 413 for 9. He made another unbeaten thirty for the loss of two wickets when Canterbury set a winning target of sixty-one.
Meanwhile coming in the ongoing ODI World Cup, When Sri Lanka was first sent to bat, they were bowled out for 171 runs in 46.4 overs. Opening batsman Kusal Perera gave the Lankans an early advantage with a powerful half-century. However, the other middle-order and top batsmen were of no service as Sri Lanka collapsed.
Rachin Ravindra (42 runs) contributed significantly to the team’s win, enabling the New Zealanders to reach their target while pursuing a modest 172 for victory, in addition to Devon Conway (45), who hit 45 runs at the top of the order. Then, in 23.2 overs, the batters from New Zealand came to the fore and increased their net run rate by chasing the target with attacking play.
Kane Williamson-led side is likely to take on high-flying India in the first semifinals of the ODI World Cup 2023 in Mumbai, as it would be a hefty task for Pakistan to defeat the defending champions England in a huge margin to qualify for the final four of the event.
