0-3 for back-to-back wins: Tim Seifert on New Zealand’s late game against India

New Zealand were staring at a series defeat after losing the first three T20Is against India. But the hosts found a way to turn things around, winning the last two matches to end the five-match competition on a positive note.

Opener Tim Seifert believes the turnaround came from them learning from their mistakes and getting better at handling the crucial moments. However, he lamented that New Zealand took too long to find their rhythm and India had already sealed the series.

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The home side sealed the fifth T20I tournament on Sunday with a convincing seven-wicket victory. Seifert led the chase with a blistering 93 off 50 balls as New Zealand chased down India’s 191 for eight in 18 overs.

India won the first three matches to take an elusive 3-0 lead, but New Zealand responded by winning the fourth and fifth T20Is.

LESSONS FROM MORNING ADVERSITIES

Seifert felt New Zealand played good cricket in the first two matches in Christchurch but failed to capitalize on their opportunities. He believed that the hosts could have left the city with a very different series score.

“Coming out of Christchurch we could have easily been 2-0 up or at least one all up,” Seifert said during the post-match media interaction.

“We were close in Christchurch. It’s just about winning those little differences when the game is on the line.”

The opener said the last two games showed New Zealand had started to get those moments right. Both their batting and bowling units have strengthened and adapted better to the conditions.

“I think it was a lesson learned from the previous games. It’s just about winning those little differences when the game is on the line. I think the bowlers, the batsmen have stepped up and adapted to the wickets we’ve been playing on,” he said.

New Zealand also had to acknowledge India’s batting performance in the third T20I in Wellington. Abhishek Sharma’s explosive century and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s big knock guided India to a six-wicket victory with 40 balls to spare, giving them a 3-0 lead.

“Hats off to them. They batted incredibly well. You can have games like that in T20 cricket,” Seifert said.

SEIFERT LEADS THE WAY

Seifert was one of the key contributors to New Zealand’s late recovery. After managing just two runs in Wellington, he ended the series with a match-winning 93 in the final T20I.

The opener admitted that he would have liked to have produced such an innings earlier when the series was still in play.

“Great to end the series with a nice knock. But as I say, it would have been nice to do it a bit earlier when the series was on the line,” he said.

His latest effort also took him close to his maiden T20I century, a milestone that still eludes him. Seifert admitted there was some personal disappointment, although he preferred the team result.

“The main thing is to win. But at the same time, the monkey is still on my back when it comes to getting my first international hundred. So you’re still a bit devastated about that,” he said.

MILNE’S ROLE IN NEW ZEALAND’S VICTORY

Seifert also credited New Zealand’s bowling attack in the final victory, particularly Adam Milne, who returned figures of four for 19.

He said the bowlers made good use of the slower surface and avoided becoming predictable against India’s batting.

“It was a bit on the slower side of the wicket. So it was all about using the slower balls. Milne played absolutely outstanding,” Seifert said.

The two wins gave New Zealand a better finish to the series, but they could not reverse the damage from the opening three matches.

“Overall it was a good series for us, but unfortunately we didn’t win,” Seifert said.

– The end