Rob Walter blames dropped catches and small margins for New Zealand’s India T20I defeats.
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Errors cost New Zealand
Wellington: New Zealand head coach Rob Walter has admitted his side threw away two winnable T20 Internationals against India, though he put the blame on fine margins and missed opportunities. “We played well for most of the game, but we didn’t quite get the job done,” Walter said after his squad arrived in Wellington to play the third game.
Backstory: A rusty start
New Zealand were not in great match shape going into the T20I series against India after their last competitive match was an ODI series in the West Indies in July. “It is something to consider,” Walter said.
“Fine margins are what this game comes down to. In the first two games those have gone against us, but we could have easily won both games.”
Match Report: Games slip away
First T20I
- The chase was made easy as India scored 226 runs.
- New Zealand failed to take key catches.
- Axar Patel was let off and scored 24 runs.
- Shreyas Iyer was also let off and scored 42 runs.
Second T20I
- New Zealand failed to defend their 180 target.
- Four Indian batters were let off.
- Jacob Duffy took a wicket with a no-ball.
- Mitchell Santner and Bevon Jacobs both missed catching opportunities. Jacobs missed twice.
- “Unfortunately we didn’t take our chances; that decided the game for us,” captain Santner said after the match.
Key Stats at a Glance
| Match | New Zealand’s Challenge | Fielding Cost |
|---|---|---|
| First T20I | India chased 226 | Axar Patel (24) and Shreyas Iyer (42) dropped early |
| Second T20I | NZ unable to defend 180 | Four Indian batters given lifelines, including a no-ball wicket |
Tactical Insights
- Dropped catches are often costly in T20s. If a batter isn’t taken early on, they can quickly gain control of the game. In the first match, India gained an extra 66 runs from two dropped catches.
- The surfaces were a big factor in the game. “The surface in the second game became a slight bit more difficult to bat on, so you saw a much lower total. Both the bowling attacks did really well to adapt to the situation and bounce back after a high-scoring first game.”
- The lower score means there’s no room for error. 180 should be defendable on the more difficult surface but needs the fielders to hold their catches.
- There are positives to take from the game. “I would say they played some good cricket, around 80% of the games. It’s just a case of not executing in the right areas.”
Pace Bowling Rotation
New Zealand are playing a 5-game ODI series and 2 tests against India. “It’s not ideal to play back-to-back T20s, so we will rotate our pace attack. It’s not an exact science, but we’re trying to do our best to keep them fresh and performing.”
| Bowler | Availability |
|---|---|
| Matt Henry | Rested for the rest of the T20I series |
| Kyle Jamieson | Third match only |
| Matt Fisher | Third match only |
| Lockie Ferguson | Sits out the third match, returns for the final two |
| Josh Clarkson | Returns for the final two games |
| Adam Milne, Blair Tickner, Jacob Duffy, Nathan Smith | Available for all three remaining matches |
What’s Next
New Zealand will look to take advantage of their good periods in the third T20I. With three matches left to play, there is a lot of flexibility in the pace attack. The focus will be on getting good fielding and closing out games. Cricket fans should look out to see if they can take advantage of the change in bowling and improved fielding to get the result they deserve.
FAQs
What did Rob Walter say about the losses?
“We could have won both games. It’s come down to fine margins. We’ve played well for around 80% of both games.”
Why did New Zealand lose the first T20I?
India chased down the 226 target after Axar Patel and Shreyas Iyer were dropped early. They then scored 24 and 42 runs.
Why did New Zealand lose the second T20I?
They couldn’t hold their 180 total. Four Indian batters were given reprieves, including a wicket from a no-ball and several drops.
Who is rested for the remainder of the T20I series?
Matt Henry is rested for the remainder of the T20Is.
Who will bowl in the third T20I?
Only Kyle Jamieson and Matt Fisher will bowl in the third game. Adam Milne, Blair Tickner, Jacob Duffy and Nathan Smith will be available for all three matches. Lockie Ferguson is rested for this game.
Why are New Zealand rotating their fast bowlers?
India will be playing five ODIs and two Tests against New Zealand. As they are playing back-to-back T20s, it isn’t the best preparation for these formats, according to Walter.
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