Williamson: “We need to be better as a unit; better as individuals”
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson has urged his team to learn from their ICC Champions Trophy exit and come back “better as a unit, and better as individuals” after a “frustrating” reverse against Bangladesh from a position of strength saw the Kiwis become the first team to depart the tournament.
Bangladesh sunk to 33-4 chasing 265 before an staggering 224-run partnership between Mahmudullah and Shakib Al Hasan took the game away from New Zealand and Williamson conceded that the final result was a shock considering the position they once held in the game.
#CT17 NZ v BAN - Kane Williamson Press Conference
“I suppose after the start we had with the ball, we thought 265 was going to be enough,” he said. “But it wasn’t to be. In the past we have defended totals like that on those sorts of surfaces, and we were in a pretty good position to do it again, but what a fantastic partnership. Two very talented players, and it came together today. It’s just frustrating to be on the other side of it.”
The tournament format meant that New Zealand could ill-afford any slip-ups, especially after the rain-out against Australia, but it was not to be. “It is a short tournament. You want to be coming here firing, playing your best cricket, and I think in the Australian game, we showed some really good signs of that. It still probably wasn't our best cricket, and we were yet to see it, certainly in these two matches here in Cardiff, which was a shame; but it can happen.
“They are cut-throat in a way that there is a bit of weather around; any team on their day, we knew coming into this tournament, can beat anyone.”
#CT17 Match Highlights - NZ vs BAN
Williamson was full of praise for New Zealand’s opponents, who took yet another big scalp in a major tournament. “We saw at home that Bangladesh were able to put us under pressure pretty much in every game that we played. The experience that they have in their middle order, and the talent that they have as well, meant that if it came together, we knew that they could beat anyone. And they are showing that more consistently nowadays, that's for sure.”
Williamson rued New Zealand’s inability to kick on towards 300, which he felt would have been impregnable on that track. “We were in a strong position. We lost wickets consistently, which certainly contributed to the total that we got. It would have been nice to get a few more closer to that 300-mark. It would have been a very good score on that surface, but it wasn't to be today. It is important that we're better next time.”