Clicky
Sports

Kiwi openers can rediscover form: Stead


Bangladeshpost
Published : 25 Jun 2019 06:18 PM | Updated : 07 Sep 2020 02:28 PM

New Zealand coach Gary Stead is confident opening batsmen Martin Guptill and Colin Munro will rediscover their scoring touch as the Cricket World Cup reaches the knockout phase, reports Reuters.

Stead’s unbeaten team, who top the standings, play Pakistan on Wednesday at Edgbaston. The right-handed Guptill, the only New Zealander to have scored an ODI double century, has been dismissed for two golden ducks. 

The majority of Munro’s 113 runs also came in the 10-wicket victory over Dimuth Karunaratne’s side when he scored 58 not out in Cardiff as he and Guptill chased down the 137 needed for victory in 16.1 overs.

“In any team you will have times when people don’t score runs. That’s the game of cricket,” Stead told reporters in Birmingham ahead of their clash with Pakistan.

“Martin and Colin have both done it for us on numerous occasions and I hope that their time will be the next game.

“If they come off it is going to make it easier for the likes for Kane and Rosco and the guys after them.”

While victory over Pakistan would confirm a spot in their eighth World Cup semi-final, Stead was wary of looking too far ahead and knows that while they top the table they could also finish outside the top four if things go against them.