Munro confident of bounce back
came when batting second which suggests a lack of confidence closing out a tight chase.
The next World T20 in Australia is two years and more than 30 matches away, and defeats in T20 internationals can be taken with a grain of salt.
Timing their run chases right, pinching a confidence-boosting win and getting players in form for the three ODIs and three tests to follow is now the priority from games two and three tomorrow and Monday (NZT).
They weren’t surprised
‘‘We got outplayed, just.’’ Colin Munro
by conditions at Sheikh Zayed Stadium (slow, difficult for batsmen to get started) and more of the same looms under lights at Dubai International Stadium where Australia plunged to successive T20 defeats last week, scoring 136-8 then 117 all out when chasing.
New Zealand’s fielding was outstanding, bar a dropped catch in the final over from Ish Sodhi and a Tim Southee fumble of a run out chance earlier.
Their bowling attack was well balanced and effective with Southee and Adam Milne good, and spin duo Sodhi and debutant Ajaz Patel well worth another go.
They just need more bowling punch from their allrounders de Grandhomme and Anderson (who wasn’t used) and for one or the other to get the chance to show their power with the bat.
Said Munro: ‘‘We were outstanding in the field, with the ball we were pretty good and with the bat we were OK. There’s some areas where we can get a bit better but tonight was pretty good without getting over the line.’’