New Zealand coach Ben Sawyer said that his side has played some good cricket but missed out on a few moments during the competition. New Zealand will face Pakistan and will need a win to keep their top four hopes alive.
00:00A strange one, the last game given the rain halfway through and the idea that it was probably a point dropped.
00:07How do you kind of keep the group up with the rain about and obviously in the heat of a World Cup
00:13knowing that you kind of need as many points as you can to make that final four?
00:17Yeah, look, I thought, well, first of all, the way that we came out in bowl,
00:20we thought it was probably a 250, 260 wicket and that's what Sri Lanka got.
00:25So all credit to them that, you know, that's what we thought was a good score.
00:28And, yeah, we were confident that we could go out and chase that.
00:31So I guess it's just holding that momentum into the next game.
00:36We've had a good couple of days, good rest day straight afterwards.
00:39Worked really hard yesterday, everybody in the nets.
00:42And then today's, you know, an optional session for those that want that little bit of a top up.
00:46So, yeah, it's just continually, I guess, doing the same things over and over again,
00:51whether it's a win or a loss and just sticking to your routine.
00:53So, yeah, everyone's in a good place and ready to go for Pakistan tomorrow.
00:58You've been in the system for quite a while now and we've seen, obviously, the T20 World Cup success as well.
01:04What are you kind of most proud about in terms of the group that you've got here
01:08and how can you sort of translate maybe that T20 World Cup success into the longer format?
01:13Yeah, I just think it's, I guess it's the way that we've competed.
01:17And, you know, we had Australia there in a really tough spot and, you know, we were close in that match, I thought.
01:24And then against South Africa, again, we've been in positions to win matches.
01:29And then Bangladesh have proved tricky for a couple of teams now and we were able to get through that one as well.
01:34So, yeah, I think at times we've played some really good cricket and just maybe a few moments we've missed out on.
01:40But, yeah, to go back to the T20 World Cup, it's the same thing.
01:44It's the way that the girls competed.
01:46It's a real mixture of some really senior players and then also some girls that are at their first World Cup
01:51or they're really young, you know, 20, 21 years of age.
01:54So, yeah, a good mix of players that, I guess, are dealing with the pressures, whether they're seasoned veterans or first into the competition.
02:03But, yeah, the way that we are competing in matches makes me really happy with this group.
02:08And just off the back of that, the importance of Sophie and the older players in that group to kind of help blood that talent through.
02:14Can you just maybe explain the importance of, you know, the likes of Sophie and Susie in building that, you know, project for, you know, future tournaments as well?
02:24Yeah, look, we've obviously known for a long time that Sophie and Susie and even Leah are getting towards the end of their careers.
02:33And that's why, you know, a really conscious decision was probably made a couple of years ago that we'd need to get some young players into this system
02:40so that it wasn't those players leave and then we have to get, you know, brand new ones in.
02:45And that's the likes of the Georges and the Izzy's that I think, you know, people can see now that it's taken a little bit of time.
02:51But they can step into those shoes tomorrow if and when, you know, it's obviously Sophie's last World Cup
02:57and whatever decision Susie makes later on down the track and Leah as well.
03:02So, yeah, they play a role in it, but we've known for a long time and we've tried to have a little bit of a runway into that.
03:09After two losses in the beginning, you bounced back with that brilliant win against Bangladesh.
03:13But is there any feeling of momentum maybe being lost after that washout?
03:18No, look, I've, like someone said, like I've, you know, been around this a long time and there's lots of things you can't control and weather's one of those.
03:27So, yeah, it's just something that we've got to roll with.
03:30Like I said, I thought we bowled really well.
03:31It was a target that we thought we could chase.
03:34We just didn't get the chance to do that.
03:35So, practice really hard the last couple of days and, yeah, ready to go for Pakistan tomorrow.
03:40And in terms of your opponent, anything that you're going to keep in mind, anything that's impressed you from their team, Pakistan?
03:46From Pakistan?
03:47Yeah, look, they've had, put some teams in some real tough spots.
03:52So, I think they had Australia 6 for 60 and then obviously the other night England were 7 for 70.
03:58So, their bowling attack is one that we've got to be really wary of.
04:02And their top order is, you know, they made a little bit, well, it looked like light work of maybe chasing down that total the other night.
04:09So, they've been impressive.
04:11They've really challenged a couple of, well, two of the top nations.
04:15So, yeah, been impressed in particular with their bowling.
04:20But this is who you can ask.
04:22Sorry for the late arrival and apologies if this was asked earlier.
04:25But Bre Eling played in the last game.
04:29Leah Tahouhu, is she coming back into the side?
04:31And if so, what's the vibe like around that decision?
04:36Yeah, look, I'll leave the decision for tomorrow.
04:39We'll wait and see that.
04:40But in terms of Bre coming in last game, it was a match-up.
04:44I think the stats had said that Jamari had been out four or five times in less than 80 balls against left armours.
04:50And Bre obviously knocked her over twice in home condition.
04:54So, yeah, it's really tough, trust me, to sit down and tell Leah, who's the leading wicket taker, that she wasn't going to play the last game isn't an easy decision.
05:03But to her credit, she accepted it for a match-up and moved on.
05:08And, you know, if selected tomorrow, she'll be ready to go.
05:10So, yeah, hopefully it shows the team first mentality and, you know, the side trying to win at all costs.
05:18And whatever the best match-up is for the group, that's what's important.
05:22So, yeah, it was purely a match-up decision.
05:26That's all.
05:27And just looking ahead to the next couple of games after Pakistan, is that something you guys are actively trying not to really look ahead to?
05:35Or is it just something you can't avoid?
05:36I'm not sure about the players, but I promise you that I'm looking ahead and I've already, you know, done the work and tried to scout and look at both England and India.
05:47Two great teams that are, you know, in particular, I think England are top of the table and India at home are hugely dangerous.
05:54They've posted some massive scores and they're going to be really tough opponents.
05:58So, I hope the players are just thinking about tomorrow.
06:01I'm sure they are, but I can promise you the staff are probably looking ahead to a couple of games.
06:05Yep.
06:06Can I ask?
06:06Ben, a lot of people have obviously been looking at Brooke and Sophie who have been carrying most of our runs.
06:11But obviously we've got a couple of top batters, Millie, Maddie, Susie, who are kind of yet to fire.
06:16How have they been looking in the nets and do you think that's, you know, brewing away?
06:20Yeah, they've looked great.
06:21And to me, I know it might sound a bit silly, but it's really exciting.
06:26Yeah, we have had probably two batters do the bulk of the work for us at the moment.
06:31So, if we can get three or four firing at once, I think we can post some huge scores.
06:36So, it's a long tournament.
06:37It goes for a month.
06:39I think we've already been on the road a month, as every other team has.
06:42And you're going to have people firing at different times.
06:45And hopefully we've got some that are really going to fire towards the back end.
06:49So, yeah, I've got no doubt those runs are coming.
06:53I think someone like Maddie, it's probably more, hasn't had a huge opportunity.
06:56She's come in at the end a lot of times.
06:58And I thought she's done really well.
06:59So, yeah, if we can get our top order really firing, I think we can post some really big scores.
07:05And lastly, in the last couple of games, I think it was identified the extras were a bit of an issue.
07:10Is that something that has been identified with the group at training?
07:13Yeah, we spoke about it.
07:14Again, I think a pleasing part, if there's ever a pleasing part about wides, a lot of those were down leg side.
07:21And we've spoken a lot about attacking the stump.
07:24So, as a coach, you can kind of live with that because you can see what they're trying to do.
07:28If we can tighten up the execution, then that's even better.
07:32But, look, if they were both sides of the wickets and all kinds of things, you'd have a few concerns.
07:37But definitely addressed and we want to tighten it up.
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