Grant Elliott Hopes For Improvement Against India

Grant Elliott Hopes For Improvement Against India

Grant Elliott is bowled by Sanath Jayasuriya (left) during the opening ODI earlier in the week.

©REUTERS/Andrew Caballero-Reynolds (SRI LANKA SPORT CRICKET) Picture Supplied by Action Images

New Zealand all-rounder Grant Elliott is hoping that his team can put in an improved performance when they take on India tomorrow in game two of the One-Day International tri-series in Colombo.

After going down by 97 runs, despite a fine start to their opening game against Sri Lanka, in an interview posted on New Zealand Cricket's homepage (www.blackcaps.co.nz), Elliott said:

"The bowlers really did well, to get Dilshan's wicket early was exciting for the guys. We didn't capitalise on the really good start we made.

"It's been quite a long tour, watching the two Tests, and being on the sidelines for almost six weeks, so I've been really looking forward to playing...I wanted to capitalise on that 40-odd and ending up getting 80 or 90 not out and winning the game."

After New Zealand were reduced to seven for three in pursuit of 217 to win, Elliott scored 41 in 76 balls before being bowled by Sanath Jayasuriya, the eighth man to fall and New Zealand were eventually bowled out for 119.

However, he remained positive looking ahead to their next game against India tomorrow at the same venue, the R Premadasa Stadium.

"I think with India, we've played them before and they're more of a known quantity, also we've been playing the conditions here for a while now, so hopefully the game (against Sri Lanka) has given us a little bit of knowledge to what we can expect," he said.

"Hopefully we can win the toss," he added, referring to the high proportion of day/night matches won by the side batting first at the venue.

© Cricket World 2009

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