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Stand-in New Zealand skipper Tom Latham was left crestfallen after his side fell narrowly short of pulling off a record chase against Australia in their ICC World Cup match in Dharamsala on Saturday.
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New Zealand suffered a second consecutive defeat in the ongoing World Cup with a heart-breaking five-run loss against Trans-Tasman rivals Australia at Dharamsala’s picturesque HPCA Stadium.
“Fantastic game of cricket. Ebbs and flows throughout. To come so close, obviously it hurts. They played fantastically well and put us on the back foot from the start,” Latham, who has led New Zealand throughout their campaign except against Bangladesh, said after the match.
The wicketkeeper-batter also heaped praise on part-time off-spinner Glenn Phillips, who was the pick of the New Zealand bowlers with figures of 3/37, dismissing both openers as well as Steve Smith.
“He (Phillips) bowled fantastically to come and bowl ten overs for 30 and take three wickets, at crucial times. To bowl his full ten from one end was great and his work is paying off,” Latham added.
All-rounder Rachin Ravindra’s struck a superb 116 that together with fighting fifties from Daryl Mitchell (54) and James Neesham (58), kept New Zealand in the hunt till the very end. Aussie pacer Mitchell Starc, however, held his nerve and bowled his side to victory in the final over after the Kiwis were left needing 19 from six.
Earlier, Travis Head made a successful return to the top of the batting order, smashing a 67-ball 109 and stitching a mammoth 175-run opening stand with David Warner (81) that set the foundation for a total in excess of 400 for the Aussies, though they would ultimately fall 12 runs short after a late collapse.
“Nice to be back, nice to be contributing. Very close in the end. Was a hell of a game. Only had a couple of hits. Little bit like the WTC, where I had a few weeks off. Have a few bruises that I can definitely strap up over the next couple of days.
“Think we (him and Warner) play together really well. Complement each other well. We try to stay connected with each other, stay in the moment and we want to be as positive as we can,” Head, adjudged the Player of the Match, said after the match.
Skipper Pat Cummins credited both the opening stand as well as Australia’s effort on the field for the victory.
“They just kept coming at us and it was a fantastic game of cricket. Travis has been away for 5 weeks, first hit back in the game and the kind of intent they (openers) showed, they led from the front.
“Marnus out there, throwing himself around at the end. Not the easiest fielding grounds here but the boys threw themselves around,” Cummins said after leading his side to their fourth consecutive victory.
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