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| NZ thrashing 'kick up backside' for Aus | | | agencies
CHRISTCHURCH, Mar 2: Australia head coach Matthew Mott has described his team's nine-wicket defeat at the hands of the hosts New Zealand in a warm-up outing as a "kick up the backside at the right time" ahead of the Women's Cricket World Cup.
Sophie Devine's (161 not out) masterclass along with contributions from Amelia Kerr (92 not out) and Suzie Bates (63) powered New Zealand to chase down the target of 322 with 6.5 overs to spare on March 1.
"Yesterday was probably the perfect tonic for us - if anyone was feeling like we're going pretty well, it was a little kick up the backside at the right time to just (remind us) that any team in this tournament on their day have got players that can stand up and hurt you," Mott said on Wednesday.
"I'm not going to hide behind the fact we don't like losing. No one likes losing. But if you're going to lose, that's the match to lose and learn some lessons before we start the ones that count for points."
The Meg-Lanning led Australia side ended the 119-run opening partnership, dismissing Bates, but could not break the match-winning unbeaten 206-run partnership between Devine and Kerr in spite of using as many as nine bowlers.
"That was sensational batting (from New Zealand) … on a whole, we reflected after the game and we're pretty happy with where we're at. As a bowling group, I think we got some great lessons yesterday, and it does show just how dangerous some teams can be," said Mott.
Australia, who defeated England in the recently-concluded Ashes series, will begin their World Cup campaign against England on March 5 in Hamilton.
"England have shown over a long period of time is that they love tournament play, they turn up at the right times and that's why they're the world champions at the moment. I would take it with a grain of salt, that Ashes series, in terms of tournament play, and we'll have to be at our best to get over them." |
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