Micromax ODI CUP, Bangladesh vs New Zealand
Kiwis focused on last three games
After hiding behind tonnes of cloud for the last couple of days the sun smiled for a while yesterday. And without any doubt it also brought smile on the faces of New Zealand cricketers who must be eagerly waiting for some sort of action after being frustrated by heavy rain.
After losing the first game by nine runs, the Black Caps haplessly watched rain completely wash out the second match of the five-match series against the Tigers on Friday.
But with depression over the Bay subsiding and the sun winking for a while signs were good enough to see the ground of the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur fit for practice and everybody was hoping that tomorrow’s third match will be held at the same venue in all probabilities.
“It’s frustrating to play one game in ten days but you can’t do anything about it. Weather permitting we are going to play three games and hopefully try to turn things around,” said New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman Brendon McCullum while talking with the reporters at Mirpur yesterday.
“We are in a very tight position against Bangladesh at the moment as they are one-nil up. We have got to believe that we are capable enough of turning things around and every person in the team believes that with the weather we can’t help and it is of no use wasting our energy over that,” he added.
There was a pre-series prediction from New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori that Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan would be the main threat for them and the Bangladesh captain proved it right after he single-handedly guided the Tigers to victory in the first match.
“Shakib is definitely a world-class player and you will have to check him if you want to win matches,” said McCullum.
“I think pressure is there when you play any international series. From our point of view we are going to approach match by match and want to make sure we are well prepared for that and hopefully we can transform that into result.
“We are preparing ourselves for the next game and will try to win that then we move on to the next game and try to get on through the same process,” he added.
McCullum, who hit 61 in the first game, didn’t find anything wrong with the wicket at Mirpur.
“The wicket did not turn massively but it was a bit slow and I expect it will not change that much but I can only say that after seeing the wicket,” he observed.
He also said that they always prepared them well no matter who the opponents are.
“We try to prepare ourselves to play our best whether we are against Bangladesh or any other team. We look at how we are going to attack them in certain areas and try to figure out their strength and try to nullify those as well,” he said.
