Determined not to let the Birmingham weather get them down, the BLACKCAPS have moved onto the next phase of their ICC Champions Trophy campaign with a spring in their step.
Scoring 291 in 46 overs against world cup champions Australia, before reducing them to 53-3 was a win in many people’s books, even if the points were shared.
“We were playing some good cricket,” captain Kane Williamson said after rain halted his side’s charge in their Birmingham tournament opener.
“I think the guys stuck at the task well with the bat. With the ball there, they came and bowled aggressively, which was what we were after.
“We can only look at what we controlled and that was the good cricket that we played. And it's important that we take that into the next game.”
The job doesn’t get any easier for the BLACKCAPS with hosts England lying in wait for them in Cardiff on Tuesday in a match which is now all but a must-win.
Coach Mike Hesson believes the English were rightly tagged pre tournament favourites and said his side would have to be even better than they were against Australia to topple them.
“Their batting line-up is very aggressive. If you don’t get it right and don’t take wickets then you are chasing a big score. Their bowling line-up also has a lot of variety so we know we’re going to have to play really well again.”
Selection was a big talking point ahead of game one and the options of opening with wicket-keeper Luke Ronchi (65) as well as playing speedster Adam Milne (2-9) instead of home town hero Jeetan Patel paid off handsomely for the selectors.
“Luke’s been good all tour,” Hesson said.
“He plays with a lot of positivity and that takes a bit of pressure off Martin Guptill at the top of the order there. He played really nicely and once Martin got out he took the leading hand.
“Adam bowled with good pace and accuracy; and the aggression that you want from the guy who has the pace. He’s not afraid to bowl the odd aggressive bumper and try and push guys back a bit.”
Hesson reserved special praise for his captain, who’s ninth ODI century went in vain on a wet Birmingham afternoon.
“He’s world class and we’re very lucky to have him in our team. The way he took the initiative and chose his moments got us into a very good position.”
The BLACKCAPS coach wasn’t sure what to expect at Sophia Gradens, with the venue for their second game of the truncated tournament throwing up more questions than answers.
“It is a bit of an unknown. There’s been a real mixture of surfaces. Even if you’d watched ten games there - they would have all been quite different in terms of what they present, so we’ll go there early, have a look at it and try and guess what’s happening.”
Armed with a fully fit 15 man squad, including the likes of Mitchell McClenaghan, Colin de Grandhomme, Jeetan Patel and Tom Latham, Hesson acknowledged he had plenty of options for Tuesday.
“Everyone’s trucking along pretty nicely. The beauty of getting your whole squad playing games - if they all stand up and play well then you have options and that’s what we want.”
The BLACKCAPS take on England in Cardiff on Tuesday (9:30pm NZT).