Beating India will send out strong statement, says Colin Munro

10/25/2017

Colin Munro believes that if New Zealand are able to beat India in the ongoing series, it will send a message that the Kiwi team is getting stronger. Munro, who opened the innings in the Wankhede ODI, also admitted that playing as an opener was a challenge for him but he is working hard on it.

After thrashing Sri Lanka 5-0 and brushing aside Australia 4-1 in back to back ODI series, New Zealand were supposed to be yet another easy win. But the Kiwis showed real grit at the Wankhede and secured a six-wicket victory at the Wankhede stadium to take a lead in the three-match series. Munro claimed that the hosts, who are placed at No. 2 in the ICC ODI rankings, are waiting eagerly to bounce back but he sees the series as an opportunity for the visitors to prove their strength.

“They will come back strong – stronger than they were in the last game. Hopefully, we can go 2-0 up. It will be hard, but like I said, we stick to one game at a time. If we can get a 2-0 lead against one of the best teams in the world in alien conditions, it will send a good statement out to everyone around the world that New Zealand cricket is getting stronger and stronger,” Munro said as quoted by Wisden India.

In the Mumbai match, India batted first and handed the Kiwis a target of 281 but an all-round batting performance, that was capped off by a record partnership between Tom Latham and Ross Taylor, helped The Kiwis take a slender lead in the series. The second ODI of the series will be played on October 25 at the Maharastra Cricket Association in Pune, where the visiting team will have the chance to win the series.

“I think all of us are very excited with the challenge that lies ahead. We ticked all our boxes in the last game and are only hoping to get better and better from here on. But we deal with one game at a time, so that game is gone now. We just got to train hard today and come tomorrow, put them to good use in the game,” the 30-year-old said.

Munro has represented the New Zealand team in 25 ODIs and 32 T20Is where he has spent most of his career batting at No. 5 or 6. However, in Mumbai, the team decided to send him to open the innings with Martin Guptill and his score of 28 runs in 35 balls helped the visitors set up the perfect platform for a win.

“(Opening is) challenging, the ball swings around a lot more and the surface has a bit more in it (early in the innings),” he said. “At training, I need to make a few adjustments and I am working hard on it. But I loved batting at the top with Guptill. He helped release some of the pressure. But yes, I am enjoying the challenge and the new role,” the left-hand batsman explained.

Beating India will send out strong statement, says Colin Munro

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