'Credit to the way England played' - Williamson remarks after 20-run defeat

Kane Williamson in action [Source: Associated Press]

New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson lauded England's Jos Buttler and Alex Hales, as the duo, along with Sam Curran, acted as a pivotal force in handing the Kiwis a 20-run defeat.

Ruing the lost opportunities, including the dropped catches of Jos Buttler, Williamson detailed the fact that New Zealand were chasing an above-par total on a tough Gabba surface.

The 32-year-old further praised Glenn Phillips, who, after scoring a ton versus Sri Lanka, took the England bowlers to the cleaners through his 36-ball 62.

Here is what Williamson said:

"I think if we could have made those breakthroughs in the initial half, but hats off to the way Jos and Alex played. Yeah, probably it was slightly above the par score. We had some moments, but again we failed to take the heat out of the game. Yeah, you cannot drop Jos, if you do, he will make you pay just the way he did today. I bubbled out, and oh, I thought I squeezed that into my chest,

"Oh, he (Glenn Phillips) is batting well, batted well on a tricky wicket in the last game, and the way he played today changed the tide of the game."

With the tournament wide open for Group 1, it will be all to play for New Zealand when they next meet Ireland on November 4 at Adelaide Oval.

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