Jimmy Neesham: “I will forget this game tomorrow”

New Zealand have faced a 119-run defeat in their final group league match of ICC World Cup against the host, England at Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street on July 4. With this defeat, New Zealand’s selection for the semi-finals became a little complicated as Pakistan are also there in the radar. If they can manage a win in a big margin against Bangladesh, they might have a chance to seal a spot in the semi-finals. However, all-rounder Jimmy Neesham shared he would “forget” about the loss by tomorrow.

Neesham further shared that this was their lowest points in the tournament where he bagged 2 wickets for 42 but failed to do well with the bat.

“It was poor, certainly below the level we expect of ourselves as a team,” Jimmy Neesham said after the crucial match. “But if you look at our goal this tournament, it was to give ourselves a chance of making the semi-finals.”

“Once you are in the top four it is only a case of having two good days and anything prior to that will be swept under the carpet. For us it is a case of flushing the dunny and preparing for the next game as best we can,” added the all-rounder.

While speaking about the loss, he said, “We prepare for every game and I will forget this game tomorrow.”

Neesham also shared that the pitch was not ideal and it changed after a point of time during the game.

“It would have required a good start and I think we had a fair bit of misfortune in our top four especially. We didn’t have a whole lot go our way,” Jimmy Neesham further added. “We certainly had a chance when myself and Tom Latham were together to put something together and give ourselves a chance of a tilt at the end.”

New Zealand, though have nearly confirmed their seat for the semi-finals, Neesham is looking forward to doing well there.

“It wasn’t to be but we are pretty happy to have ended up in the semi-finals. I would be foolish to stop what has been working for me now. I will be preparing for a semi-final at Old Trafford,” he expressed.

“There are plenty of worse jobs than being out in the Durham sunshine playing a game of cricket. I am trying to wiggle a couple of tickets to Wimbledon and get the train down, But for us it will be about trying to get away from cricket for a few days now,” he concluded.