Trans-Tasman T20I: Kane Williamson refuses to blame bowlers for the Auckland loss
Published - 17 Feb 2018, 06:16 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:21 AM
New Zealand’s skipper Kane Williamson has somewhat ducked to target his bowlers for the loss in the fifth Twenty20 International against Australia in Auckland.
The Kiwi’s posted 243 for six batting first which the Australian batsmen chased down quite easily.
Australia created history as they chased the highest-ever T20I run-chase. Australia registered the record against New Zealand at the Eden Park during the ongoing Trans-Tasman T20 series.
New Zealand’s batting was boosted by their opener Martin Guptill (104), who completed his second T20I century.
Australia and New Zealand played their first T20 match against each other at the Eden Park since the inaugural T20 International match 13 years ago.
Black Caps won the toss and opted to bat first. The Kiwi openers were involved in a 132-run opening wicket partnership.
Colin Munro and Martin Guptill thrashed Australian fast bowlers all around the park.
Australian openers gave a perfect start as David Warner and D’Arcy Short stitched a 121-run stand. Warner scored his first score of over 50 for the first time in the limited overs format this season.
Australia chased down the target in just 18.5 overs. Kane Williamson has not blamed his bowlers for the hammering they received.
On a small ground, the shortest boundary straight down the ground was just 55 meters. However, the longest boundary was 65 meters.
Williamson admitted there was little more his side could have done to avoid the defeat.
Williamson maintains, “It’s hard to be too critical of the bowlers. All you can do is look at your defensive options as well as you can and look to execute next game.”
“At the same time even when you did execute today, half hits would go 20 rows back. It was a very good surface and a small ground and I suppose a game like this was bound to happen here at some point,” he asserts.
“Often we have seen scores on the lower side but today both teams batted outstandingly well, put both bowling attacks under a lot of pressure and came up with [the game] we had today,” Williamson said.
“At the half-way point we felt we had a fairly good score on the board but at the same time you still know that any opposition here won’t die wondering and if they come off they will get close – and they got more than close today,” Williamson concludes.
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