Stand-in New Zealand captain Kyle Mills was visibly disappointed with his side’s display after Bangladesh completed a 3-0 ODI series sweep over them on Sunday at Fatullah.
The Tigers, chasing the visitors’ 307-5, reached their target with four wickets remaining and four balls to spare to register their seventh consecutive ODI victory against the Kiwis.
‘We are all very disappointed with the outcome of, not just today’s match, but the whole series. To go down 3-0 is extremely disappointing,’ said Mills at the post-match briefing.
‘It wasn’t our plan when we came out here but we have to hand it to the Bangladesh side, they played exceptional cricket today [Sunday].
‘It’s obviously not great. Anytime the side loses it’s extremely disappointing, not just for myself but all the other players and the management who came out here to win the series. That’s what international cricket is all about.
‘To come out with a loss today [Sunday] is exceptionally disappointing. Obviously we had already lost the series, but there was an opportunity for us today to finish on a high leading into the T20 game. But there are a couple of days before the T20, and that will be our main focus now,’ he said.
Following the one-off Twenty20 International on Wednesday at Mirpur, the Kiwis will then turn their attention to Sri Lanka, where they will travel in a few days’ time for three one-dayers and two Twenty20 Internationals. Mills said that they will take the positives from this series into another series in the sub-continent.
‘There are a number of positives. Ross Taylor’s innings today was a classy innings of an international cricket batsman. He crafted it beautifully. [Tom] Latham played a hand. Colin Munro got an opportunity today [Sunday] and he grasped it; he played a magnificent knock,’ said Mills.
‘Throughout the series, I think Corey Anderson and Jimmy Neesham really stood up as well. Young guys standing up is a great sign for New Zealand cricket, and definitely moving forward over the next 15 months.’
Mills, standing in as skipper in the final ODI due to an injury to regular captain Brendon McCullum, also credited the hosts for their splendid performance.
‘I thought we had a total we could defend. The opening batters for Bangladesh played exceptionally well and took the game away from us,’ said the 34-year old veteran, who was also the last Kiwi batsman dismissed in Bangladesh’s 4-0 series sweep in 2010.
‘I wouldn’t take the gloss off the Bangladesh team, they played exceptional cricket. They have really developed over the last ten years. We tried to front up today but just came short, which is disappointing.
‘We were quite wary of the Bangladesh side. They’ve got some very good players in these conditions, and you have to admire that. But we are going to take a number of positives from the series,’ he added.
-With New Age input
