Vettori After Improved Showing In ODI Series

Vettori After Improved Showing In ODI Series

Daniel Vettori (left) departs after his innings was finally ended on the final day.

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

New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori has asked his batsmen to reign in their natural attacking instincts in the wake of their 96-run defeat in the second and final Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo.

New Zealand were looking at a far heavier defeat before lower order batsmen Jacob Oram, who hit 56, Vettori himself, who scored a career-best 140, and bowlers Jeetan Patel, Iain O'Brien and Chris Martin frustrated Sri Lanka on the final day before eventually being bowled out for 397.

"Probably we've been guilty of trying to force the game a bit much," he told a news conference after the match.

"There's no doubt that it's a talented group of batsmen. I have high hopes for them. I suppose people get impatient for results."

Attention now turns to the One-Day International series which begins on 8th September and Vettori is keen for his side to use the series as preparation for the Champions Trophy, which gets underway in South Africa on 22nd September.

"We've got a number of perssonel changes but the core group still stays the same," Vettori said. "I think guys have a real confidence in their own ability in the One-Day format...I hope we'll see a turnaround in our performances and we need to win these games to build up to the Champions Trophy which is a short, sharp tournament - you've got to hit it running."

Vettori also paid tribute to the batting of the lower order, singling out O'Brien for special praise.

"Iain O'Brien's gone from a guy who probably couldn't hold a bat to really working hard and now he's getting some results. It's pleasing, and it's great for him."

O'Brien scored 12 runs in 75 balls, helping Vettori put on 69 for the ninth wicket.

On his Twitter page, O'Brien added: "It was fun out there, really enjoyable. I do have to learn to score more runs though."

© Cricket World 2009

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