Published: Feb 06, 2019, 04:45 PM (IST)
Edited: Feb 06, 2019, 04:45 PM (IST)
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson was chuffed with the way his team performed in the series opening T20I win against India in Wellington on Wednesday.
After a 1-4 spanking in the preceding ODI series, New Zealand have started the T20I-leg of the tour on a dominating note, handing India their biggest defeat of the format in terms of run-margin. (ALSO READ: We were outplayed in all three departments – Rohit)
India stand-in captain Rohit Sharma opted to field and thanks to opener Tim Seifert’s quickfire 43-ball 84 who belted seven fours and six sixes to power New Zealand to 219/6. (ALSO READ: Feels nice to have backed my ability – Seifert)
India were then bowled out for 139 in reply with the hosts cruising to an 80-run win. “Fantastic performance all around, everyone rose and it was one of those complete performances that you search for,” Williamson said at the post-match presentation.
He continued, “But it has finished now, we move on in a day’s time and we have another game. The top-order were superb, and we built partnerships that helped us. Seifert, (Colin) Munro were outstanding. We know it will be different in a couple of days’ time and we need to learn from our bits and pieces and move on. Some really good experiences for the boys, some of the short contributions are of great importance. Daryll (Mitchell) bowled really well and played a good cameo down the order.”
Williamson is hopeful the win has set the tone for the remainder of the series and that they will seal the win in Auckland on Friday when the two teams lock horns for the second T20I. “We had the runs on the board, but the bowling and fielding too was of high standard. A complete performance that doesn’t happen everyday, and hope we can keep the momentum through the series having set the tone,” he said.
Earlier in the day, New Zealand women had also completed a 23-run win over their Indian counterparts at the same venue. “The White Ferns game was a fantastic one, it ebbed and flowed all through. We have copied each other through the series and hopefully they can beat them in the next game and we’ll carry it forward,” he said.
