Champions Trophy 2017: Steve Smith admits rain saved Australia against Kiwis

Tags: Champions Trophy 2017, Group A - Australia Vs New Zealand 2nd ODI at Birmingham, Jun 2, 2017, Australia, New Zealand

Published on: Jun 03, 2017

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Australia's skipper Steve Smith admitted that his team underperformed in the Champions Trophy match against New Zealand at Edgbaston

Australia's skipper Steve Smith admitted that his team underperformed in the Champions Trophy match against New Zealand at Edgbaston, which had to be abandoned due to rain.
Australia gave away 291 in 45 overs bowling first, and then crumbled to 53/3 in nine overs before rain had the final say.
"We obviously still had some batters in the shed that can certainly play when you need to be chasing a total like that. But probably certainly would have preferred to being in New Zealand's position when we came off the end there. We still had a lot of work to do and they've got a quality bowling attack as well. So we perhaps got away with one there," Smith admitted after the match.
His opposite number, Kane Williamson, on the other hand, said, "I mean, we were playing some good cricket. Would have been nice to see how the game would unfold if we were able to get out and finish it. But it is a funny game, cricket. And when there's rain around, the Duckworth-Lewis does tend to help the side batting second; but, like I say, the guys were going well with the ball in hand, and it would have been interesting to see how it unfolded," said the New Zealand skipper.
Smith was particularly unhappy with the way the faster men bowled early on. "I thought it was probably one of the worst bowling displays that we've put on for a very long time. We bowled both sides of wicket. We gave them a lot of freebies. And it was pretty ordinary, to be honest with you," said Smith.
--By A Cricket Correspondent

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