New Zealand pacer Matt Henry pulled his right hamstring during the crucial World Cup match against South Africa in Pune. After bowling three balls in his sixth over, the seamer seemed uncomfortable. He walked off the field and took no further part in the rest of the innings.
Matt Henry wasn’t the only one to suffer a setback during the game against the Proteas, James Neesham, who bowled five more overs after finishing Henry’s over, was struck by a ball and bruised on his right wrist adding more woes to the ongoing ODI World Cup campaign of the Blackcaps.
Taking their X handle, According to New Zealand Cricket, Matt Henry will have a hamstring scan, and following the scans, an update on his injury condition will be provided.
“Matt Henry will have a scan on his right hamstring tomorrow after leaving the field in Pune during his sixth over and not returning against South Africa. A further update will be provided after the scan has been assessed”.
Matt Henry will have a scan on his right hamstring tomorrow after leaving the field in Pune during his sixth over and not returning against South Africa. A further update will be provided after the scan has been assessed. #CWC23 pic.twitter.com/BbrcwHSImr
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) November 1, 2023
Matt Henry has been New Zealand’s second-most productive bowler in the showcase thus far, behind Mitchell Santner. The Right arm-pacer has now claimed eleven wickets from seven matches with an economy rate of 5.79 and an average of 28.63 and could be a crucial miss for the 2019-Runners-up in their ongoing ODI World Cup campaign.
Out of its fifteen players, New Zealand had only eleven fit players when Matt Henry joined the list of injured players, along with Ferguson, Mark Chapman (calf), and Kane Williamson (thumb). Ish Sodhi was brought in as the stand-in fielder for Matt Henry in the match.
New Zealand’s campaign has been marred by injury ever since their World Cup squad was revealed in September. Williamson and Southee were named in the touring group even though they still had an ACL injury and a thumb fracture and the team will be hoping to have their players fit for the crucial final two games of the marquee event.
On November 4, New Zealand and Pakistan will play a daytime match at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. The following Thursday, they’ll play Sri Lanka at the same location to complete their World Cup league campaign.