McCullum: Batting let us down

New Zealand

Skipper Brendon McCullum rued an inadequate performance with the bat, after New Zealand capitulated to a 72-run defeat at the hands of South Africa – in the penultimate ODI against South Africa in Mount Maunganui.

The Proteas posted a formidable total of 282 for nine on the back of opener Hashim Amla’s solid century, after which the Black Caps managed a mere 210 all out.

The reply, would have read considerably smaller, too, had wicketkeeper-batsman Luke Ronchi and tail-ender Mitchell McClenaghan not shared a record 10th-wicket partnership of 76.

“It wasn’t great, the batting let us down, but bowling was okay. We were good in the field, but we had too many soft dismissals. There was a little bit backbone at the end, but it was far too little too late,” said McCullum.

“We have to continue to get used to the conditions, we were short on adapting to this wicket. We have got a bit of hard work to do over the next two days. It’s a beautiful ground and a fantastic place, great crowd as well.”

The third and final ODI will get underway at Seddon Park in Hamilton on the weekend.

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