New Zealand all-rounder Daryl Mitchell admitted the Black Caps lost control of the contest in the Powerplays as they slumped to a seven-wicket defeat against South Africa in their T20 World Cup clash, their first loss of the tournament.
“I think we probably let the game slip in both Powerplays,” Mitchell said after Saturday night’s defeat.
“With the bat, we lost a few too many wickets early and had to consolidate through the middle phase. And then with the ball, we’ve got to put our hands up and admit we weren’t as sharp as we needed to be.”
After early setbacks, New Zealand recovered to post 175 for 7, but Mitchell conceded the side had aimed higher on a surface that encouraged strokeplay.
“We rebuilt and gave ourselves a chance to capitalise at the back end, but we couldn’t quite push towards the 200 we were targeting. We always want more runs,” he said.
South Africa made light work of the chase, laying a strong foundation in the Powerplay — a phase Mitchell acknowledged proved decisive.
“When two batters come hard at you early, that’s T20 cricket. Someone wins, someone loses. Unfortunately, we were on the wrong side tonight.”
Mitchell also credited the South African attack for executing their plans effectively, particularly with their variations.
“I thought their bowlers, especially Marco Jansen, were outstanding. They looked like they understood the surface well. Their plans were clear and they executed them nicely. You’ve got to take your hat off to them.”
Reflecting on a crucial late passage when boundaries dried up, Mitchell described it as part of the format’s ebb and flow.
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“Sometimes the shots sail for six, sometimes they find a fielder. We’d built a platform after losing early wickets and were ready to push again, but those small moments didn’t go our way and we fell short of the total we wanted.”
Despite the setback, Mitchell stressed the team would move on quickly.
“One of the strengths of this Black Caps group is staying present. We’ll take the learnings from this game and shift our focus to the next one. We still represent our country and we’re here to win.”
Mitchell also praised the atmosphere at the Narendra Modi Stadium, saying New Zealand have felt warmly supported during their extended stay in India.
“It’s a beautiful ground and a special place to play. We’ve been here nearly six weeks and we really appreciate the support from the Indian fans. It sometimes feels like we’re their second favourite team after India.”
