SunRisers Leeds feeling the benefit from Zak Crawley's leadership skills
AFTER Harry Brook admitted that leading SunRisers Leeds through The Hundred would be “too much” for him following an intense white-ball challenge against India for England, coach Daniel Vettori weighed up the possible replacements.
It didn’t take him long to settle on one-time England Test opener, Zak Crawley.
“Harry has a huge workload and the fact that he was going to come into the team basically one day before the first game,” Vettori told The Yorkshire Post. “He requested that it was going to be too much for him. Obviously, we had a number of other options.
“There was the fact that Zak had been here before and there was a lot of positivity around him as a person, as a leader - albeit he hasn't done it before.
“But in these recent games, I have seen that materialise. He's a really confident leader, and has a good understanding of the game. So, it's nice to have him around, and the guys really respect him and enjoy his company.”
With overseas signings Marsh and Ryan Rickelton locked in as openers, Vettori revealed that Brook and Crawley might have to share the No 3 slot for Leeds.
“The plan is for Brook to come in after the powerplay,” added Vettori. “If we lose a wicket early, then Zak will go in and resume the No 3 position - but we've had really good powerplays with Marsh and Rickelton, so it's allowed us to send Brook in.”
Chasing a daunting target of 182 in their second home game against the Manchester Super Giants on Tuesday, Sunrisers lost Rickelton early in the powerplay, prompting Vettori to promote skipper Crawley ahead of Brook.
After two low scores (0,13) for the Sunrisers, Crawley (56no) assisted an in-form Marsh (63) and produced a captain’s knock that made a mockery of the highest Hundred run chase at Headingley.
Backed by Brook’s entertaining 42 not out off 17 balls, Crawley fired three sixes and five fours in his first half-century for the Sunrisers.
Completing the chase with 12 balls to spare, Sunrisers are now level on points with leaders Manchester Super Giants ahead of Sunday afternoon’s clash with Trent Rockets at Trent Bridge.
Earlier, in the women’s encounter, Smriti Mandhana’s superb unbeaten 88 helped Manchester to a four-wicket win.
Bryony Smith (26), Phoebe Litchfield (31) and Annabel Sutherland (35) laid the foundation for a challenging total by Leeds as they reached 142-4.
The visitors found themselves at 71-5 after 54 balls but India opener Mandhana kept the chase on track to get her team over the line with just four balls to spare.
Leeds coach Adi Birrell reflected: “I thought we had a decent total. We kept on getting wickets.
"We did a lot of things right but we just didn’t quite close out the game and if you can’t get an international opener out, she ends up winning the game – so credit to Mandhana.”