'Don't think we're too far off', says Mitchell, after opening defeat
New Zealand were outplayed in both departments, as the visitors completed their run-chase of 154 in the penultimate over of the innings. Mitchell, however, didn't read too much into the result and felt that the home team aren't too far off from a win.
"I guess you learn in professional sport that you keep backing your skills," Mitchell said. "It's only one game of cricket. I don't think we were too far off, really, at the end of the day."
England WIN by seven wickets!
— ICC (@ICC) November 1, 2019
A clinical performance from Eoin Morgan and his men, who did just about everything right in Christchurch today. They lead the five-match series 1-0.#NZvENG SCORECARD 👉 https://t.co/N4uBuwJFxs pic.twitter.com/2Tv6RRcxiE
The visitors showed great discipline with the ball, after Eoin Morgan elected to field on a slow surface, and Mitchell commended them for those efforts.
"It was tough to start on. It was a bit two-paced and a bit slow," Mitchell said of the Hagley pitch. "We lost a few wickets straight after the Powerplay there, which just halted our momentum a little bit for a while and we had to play catch-up. Once you get set, then it becomes a bit easier, but fair play to England, they adapted better than us.''
Colin Munro, Tim Seifert and Colin de Grandhomme got starts, but none of them could carry on for long, affecting New Zealand's progress in the middle overs. Mitchell called on the batsmen to take on more responsibility when the two sides meet next, in the second T20I in Wellington on Sunday, 3 November.
5️⃣0️⃣
— ICC (@ICC) November 1, 2019
James Vince brings up his maiden T20I half-century with a sublime four – his eighth of the day.
England need 46 runs in six overs.
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"Sunday at the Cake Tin [Westpac Stadium] is going to be exciting. Hopefully, two players can come off [with the bat] and get us the win. That's all it really takes."
Mitchell had walked in to bat in at the fall of Tim Serifert's wicket in the 14th over of the innings, and scored an unbeaten 30 off just 17 balls to take his side to 153/5 at the end of 20 overs. However, his performance was overshadowed by that of James Vince, England's No.3, who scored a fluent 59 to set up a comfortable win. The 28-year-old hoped the confidence from the win would carry through for the rest of the series.
"I think it will build a lot of confidence and belief in the group, with a lot of the main players missing," Vince said. "I think it will do wonders and, hopefully, we can continue the momentum on Sunday."