CWC 2019: Williamson asks his players to put the crushing defeat against Australia behind them

The Black Caps received an 86-run hammering from the World Cup holders at Lord's.

Australia ramped home to another win | Getty

Skipper Kane Williamson was left disappointed after New Zealand suffered an 86-run loss to Australia at Lord's on Saturday (June 29) but he also quickly urged his players to move forward and focus on trying to revive a dwindling World Cup campaign. 

This was Black Caps' second straight defeat of the tournament in eight games, including five wins and a rain-abandoned draw. The team is yet to secure a place in the semi-finals and will be facing England in its last game of the league stage on Wednesday (July 3) at Chester-le-Street. 

"It's about moving on and going to Durham," said Williamson after New Zealand got bundled out for only 157 in 43.4 overs while trying to chase down Australia's 243/9 on a tough surface at the 'Home of Cricket'. 

Usman Khawaja (88) and Alex Carey (71) batted really well and allowed the defending champions to post a competitive total before Mitchell Starc (5/26) delivered an outstanding spell. None of the Kiwi batsmen apart from Williamson (40) and Ross Taylor (30) got going on the day. 

"We were one wicket away if you look at the positives in our bowling, it wasn't to be today. Rather than digging too deep, you're analysing the past when the challenge coming up can be quite different. There are so many variables in this sport and World Cup. It's about moving on to the next game," Williamson added, before accepting that defeats to Pakistan and now Australia have been "a dent in momentum" for his side. 

"But then at the end of the day, it is coming back to the cricket that we want to play. Playing with those smarts, I think cricket smarts throughout this tournament has been perhaps the most important thing."

"On these surfaces that have varied a bit...you do need to be smart and adapt really quickly on them to give yourselves the best chance of success," he concluded. 

(Inputs from AFP)

 
 

By Kashish Chadha - 30 Jun, 2019

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