New Zealand captain Kane Williamson applauded his team’s all-round performance after their convincing eight-wicket victory over India in the ongoing T20 World Cup in Dubai on Sunday. He said that it was all about adapting to spin-bowling conditions.
While, their spinner, Mitchell Santner, returned with figures of 4-0-15-0, Ish Sodhi, who was awarded the Player of the Match did exceptionally well as he conceded 17 runs from his four overs, claiming 2 wickets as well. However, this is not the first time. In the 2016 edition of the tournament, New Zealand had defeated India with their spin attack in Nagpur. Ish Sodhi and Santner had scalped seven wickets among them as they had bowled out India for 79 as well.
READ HERE: Aakash Chopra opens up on New Zealand’s T20 World Cup squad
“There’s always planning going into games, but this was a fantastic all-round performance against a formidable Indian outfit that puts up an incredible fight. Today most things went our way, and we were very clinical on all facets. We were able to build pressure on a surface where it wasn’t easy to find a rhythm, and then the openers came out and set us the platform for the chase,” said Kane Williamson in the post-match presentation ceremony.
“It’s just about adapting [spin attack] to the conditions as well we can. For us, both the spinners lend balance to the attack, and they both were outstanding today. I think the collective unit was impressive, the way they kept passing the baton. We saw some very good signs in our first match as well, which was a tight one, and we built on that,” he further added.
READ HERE: Shaun Tait explains why speedsters struggle to bowl 150+kmph
As far as the game is concerned, New Zealand won the toss and put pressure on the Indian batters from the beginning. Tea India failed to step up after their 10-wicket loss against Pakistan last Sunday as well. And, they successfully managed to restrict them to only 110, which the New Zealand batters easily chased down with 33 balls in hand. However, New Zealand will next play against Scotland in Dubai on Wednesday.
However, Kane Williamson also praised Ish Sodhi and called him an outstanding white-ball bowler as well. “Ish is an outstanding white-ball bowler. He has been a big part of our side for a long period. He’s very experienced in playing T20 cricket, having played in different leagues all over the world. In these conditions, spin plays a big part,” added the captain.
