Sports
We walk away with our heads held high: McCullum
Melbourne, March 29
New Zealand skipper
Brendon McCullum on Sunday said they might not have won the World Cup
but they played a good brand of cricket and walk away with their heads
held high.
Australia beat New Zealand by seven wickets with 101
balls remaining at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) here to clinch the
sport's ultimate prize for the fifth time.
"Didn't lift the
trophy but no regrets. The brand of cricket we've played and we walk
away with our heads held high," McCullum said at the post-match
presentation ceremony.
"It's the greatest time of our lives and
that's how we tried to play the game, with a free spirit and heart.
Still think we can be very proud of our achievements in this
tournament."
The 33-year-old said that Australia played better cricket and deserved to win.
"We
ran into an outstanding team in Australia. They continue to set the
standard. Michael Clarke bows out on a high note, they deserved to win,"
McCullum said.
After opting to bat, New Zealand were reduced to
39/3 in the 13th over but Grant Elliot (83) and Ross Taylor (40), with a
111-run stand for the fourth-wicket, brought the Black Caps back into
the game.
However, from the 36th over onwards, Taylor’s wicket,
when New Zealand were at 150, spelled a collapse as the Kiwis were
bowled out for 183 with the last seven wickets falling for only 33 runs.
“Probably
unfolded not as planned but we got ourselves back in the game at 150/3.
With 180, you still dare to dream, could have ended up differently with
a couple of things going our way,†he said.
“It's been one hell of a ride for us, right the way through... we played some outstanding cricket.â€