McCullum exhorts Black Caps to up their game

New Zealand captain clueless about 59-run defeat to Sri Lanka.

CHITTAGONG:

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum Monday stressed his team must look for a turnaround soon if they want to win a major tournament, following their unceremonious exit from the World Twenty20.

The Black Caps were dealt a telling blow by Sri Lanka, who beat them by 59 runs in a low-scoring game in Chittagong.

With Sri Lanka dismissed for a paltry 119, the match was within New Zealand’s reach but left-arm spinner Rangana Herath demolished them with figures of five for three runs in 3.3 overs.

That bowled New Zealand out for their lowest Twenty20 total of 60 — overall third lowest in the shortest format.

New Zealand have only once reached the semi-final, way back in the inaugural edition — a trend McCullum wants to end.

“Something’s going to have to change at some stage,” said McCullum. “Otherwise, we’ll keep turning up at tournaments, winning a couple, losing a couple and never claiming any silverware.”

Chasing a modest target, New Zealand lost Martin Guptill to a silly run out and five balls later McCullum was stumped off Herath for nought.

He was lost for words on being all out for 60, with opener Kane Williamson contributing 42 of that low total.

“How do you get out for 60? I’m still trying to work that out as well — especially when one guy gets 40-odd.”

Giles terms defeat to Dutch ‘embarrassing’

England coach Ashley Giles Monday admitted their World Twenty20 defeat against minnows Netherlands was ‘embarrassing’ and said he shared the fans’ anger at their humiliating loss.

England went down to the Netherlands by 45 runs in their last group one match in the Super-10 stage, a repeat of their 2009 World Twenty20 defeat on home ground.

Giles said he understood and shared the anger of the fans.

“I share that anger absolutely,” he said. “There are a lot of emotions flying at the moment.

“We are human beings and when that’s your line of work you should be angry and I understand why the supporters are angry. All we can do is apologise to the people watching at home.”

Published in The Express Tribune, April 2^nd, 2014.

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