Ross Taylor says Kiwis tried to counter spinners with sweep shots

Taylor scored 95 runs in the opening game of the three-match ODI series and his record-breaking partnership with centurion Latham resulted in adding 198 runs. Latham managed to score an unbeaten 103, owing to the guidance of Taylor, who advised him to play the sweep and reverse sweep to disturbed the length of Indian spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal.

New Zealand succeeded in chasing India's score of 281 runs and emerged victorious in the first ODI against India. Due to the sweep shots strategy, Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal gave away 125 runs in 20 overs claiming just one wicket between them.

"With the sweep shot. we are able to put pressure on the spinners and forced them to adjust their lengths. I thought he (Latham) did that outstandingly well. I told him to reverse sweep and he did it, and he kept doing it," PTI reported Taylor explaining at the post-match press conference.

Moreover, Taylor said that Martin Guptill and Colin Munro provided a much needed good start, even after fielding for three and half hours in scorching heat and humidity.

"Having to field out there for over three and a half hours, we knew we had to get off to a good start and try and negate their spinners. Traditionally, New Zealand come here and struggle up-front in our innings," he added.

"Being able to rotate the strike in the right-left combination with Tom, I think you have got to give credit to Gup (Guptill) and Munners (Munro). They set the platform for us and we were able to rotate the strike and take it deep and then we knew we were in a good position in the game."

Moreover, the 33-year-old felt that several tours to India for national team and participation in IPL franchise equipped him to deal with the Indian conditions.

"I have come here many a times before whether it's international cricket or IPL. I am not getting any younger and just wanted a bit of a push and just had a bit more intent I think."

Taylor also talked about their respective hundreds in the second warm-up against Board President's XI and said that they were able to bring that form to Wankhede as well.

"Through those middle stages in the past, you take up a far too many dot balls so made a conscious effort of being a bit more busier at the crease, work on a few shots and open up the off side. Tom and I got some runs in the warm-up game and it was nice to bring that form into Wankhede."

Further, Taylor praised Trent Boult and is now expecting that India will strive hard to win the second game at Pune, which is expected to be a batting belter.

"As long as you win, it doesn't matter who steps up. Today it was Tom and myself. You have got to give credit to the bowlers as well, it was pretty warm out there. Boulty (Trent Boult) bowled outstandingly well but still a long way to go."

"We know India are going to come at us hard and now it's one more victory to take the series for us. But we know Pune is going to be a tough wicket to play on and we have to start again and not dwell on this too much," he concluded.

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