New Zealand batsman Henry Nicholls on Thursday stated the One-Day International squad didn’t carry the bags of the T20 blanking by India and that mirrored in its highest run chase in 50-over cricket.
Riding on Ross Taylor’s 21st hundred, the hosts chased down their highest complete in ODIs on Wednesday to take a 1-Zero lead within the three-match sequence. The second ODI will probably be performed right here on Saturday.
No strain
“We didn’t feel it as part of the group coming in. So I wasn’t feeling any pressure and there is no need to prove anything. It was a small ground and a big chase, so it was nice we were able to do that,” Nicholls stated on Thursday.
“It was great, our biggest chase ever in ODI cricket and it was good to be able to contribute in it. In the past, playing India in India, we have had a couple of chases around the 300-mark and others we got close. It was nice to do that again at home, and to actually win the game, it was great,” he stated.
Taylor smacked an unbeaten 109, with Tom Latham knocking 69 off 48 balls. Their partnership broke India’s bowling power within the center overs. Nicholls paid wealthy tribute to the 2 senior batsmen.
More than simply runs
“Having somebody like that at quantity 4, particularly with Kane Williamson not being there as properly, the expertise he brings is immense. It isn’t just in regards to the runs, as a result of batting with him within the center, you retain having these conversations that assist your batting too.
“The dimensions of the bottom helped us and he definitely likes batting there. It was an ideal partnership and nice knock from him. Ross being there until the top to be not out and win the sport was immense for us,” Nicholls stated.
On Lathham’s knock, he stated: “Tom and I’ve performed collectively for a very long time, so I’ve definitely seen him play like that earlier than. He could be very versatile and adaptive to the sport situation and situations. The means he began, properly it was sluggish, 2 off 10 balls or one thing.
“But he managed to place the strain again on Kuldeep (Yadav) and their different spinners. Being captain he led from the entrance and that partnership modified the sport for us,” he stated.
Seddon Park’s dimensions got here into sharp focus, as a shorter boundary on one facet benefitted the chase. The second ODI will probably be performed at Eden Park which has nonetheless shorter boundaries.
“The quick boundary proved to be actually necessary for us. There was some breeze as properly within the night. So at any time when they bowled via the center, or bowled quick, we pushed again with boundaries.
“Their attacking bowlers couldn’t bowl with the larger boundary and it performed into our arms. Ross managed it fairly properly and once more for Tom to come back to the crease, and assault the way in which he did, it actually modified the sport.
Credit to bowlers
“On a brief floor, the credit score goes to our bowlers who realised it could possibly be a 360-370 rating. But they saved it to a smaller rating which could possibly be chased down. For us as a batting unit, we all know we will chase excessive scores on that small floor,” stated Nicholls.
He stated he would proceed to open so long as the administration wished, regardless of solutions that Latham might transfer up high given his type.
“Opening isn’t too totally different. I’m used to batting in a number of totally different spots. I used to be opening a bit for Canterbury coming into this sequence. So I’m making an attempt to type a brand new partnership up high with Martin Guptill, and get these platforms in.
Confident
“I used to be disenchanted to get out after a very good begin. But with Ross there and the way in which Tom began, I used to be assured we might get the chase executed. In the top we solely wanted run-a-ball and it was the largest issue for us to complete the sport,” he signed off.