http://www.senore.com/Cricket/BB-McCullum-c1129 satisfied with opening ODI victory – Cricket News Update
New Zealand skipper, Brendon McCullum, praised his side’s battling efforts during a closely contested opening ODI against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013, which they ultimately sealed in their favour by three wickets.
McCullum was the orchestrated of the win, smashing a quick fire half-century after arriving at the crease with his side plenty of trouble at 4 for 142. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MJ-Guptill-c1980, who was then forced
to retire hurt after hurting his hamstring in the fifth over of the run-chase.
Having already lost http://www.senore.com/Cricket/JEC-Franklin-c1684 fell in quick succession to hand the tourists the ascendency but McCullum’s
timely knock change the complexion of the game. His unbeaten 68, which included six fours and three sixes, ensured that his side reached the target with an over to spare.
"It was pretty satisfying. There were many times today when we were, not out of the game but definitely behind the eight-ball," McCullum said. "I thought we showed some fighting characteristics. It's a really important trait for us that we do keep fighting
and scrapping like that."
The losing captain, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AN-Cook-c1026, admitted that his side squandered the advantage on no less than two occasions. The tourists were in prime position to post somewhere in the region of 300 but lost crucial wickets in their pursuit and had to settle for a
competitive score of 258. The English contingent lost their last seven wickets for a combined score of 74, after being comfortably placed at 184 for 2.
"We got ourselves in position to win that," he said. "But they got themselves over the line, and we couldn't quite manage to put the pressure on them. We just kept losing wickets at crucial times, and never really got the partnerships towards the end of
the innings - which could have got us up to 280 or 290. "
The action now moves to Napier, the venue of the second ODI, with the match commencing on February 20.
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