We are focussed on getting small margins right Bevon Jacobs

Auckland, Oct 29 (PTI) New Zealand have already lost the T20 series to India but batter Bevon Jacobs said his side would not "step off the gas" and focus on getting the "small margins" right in the remaining two games of the five-match series.

    New Zealand are trailing 0-3 in the series.

    "Obviously, it's not ideal being three-nil down, but the vibe is pretty positive. The first two games were really competitive and there was a lot of good cricket played, so we'll take that forward into the next two fixtures and try to get one up," Jacobs said ahead of the fourth T20 against India.

    "We'll obviously know what the state of the series is like, but that doesn't mean stepping off the gas. We're going to reflect on everything that we've done in the first three fixtures and go out there and give it our all in the last two."

    Jacobs said New Zealand had put themselves in positions to win the first three matches but had failed to capitalise on those opportunities.

    "... the game's in small margins. And if we're being honest, we put ourselves in positions to win those games and we just didn't get over the line. But again you got to tip your hat to someone who's played a knock like that and it was pretty special to watch (referring to Abhishek Sharma hundred).

    "... the boys are just really focused on, trying to nail those small percentages that T20 cricket brings so that we can get that win ..."

     Jacobs did not blame the toss for New Zealand's defeats.

    "The toss is just something that's part of the game. You can talk about the toss winning and losing and all that, but at the end of the day, you get paid to go out there and do your work or whatever gets thrown at you...."

    IPL stint helped me learn in different conditions

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    Jacobs believes his stint with Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League provided valuable lessons, particularly in adapting to unfamiliar conditions and learning from experienced players.

    "That experience was huge for me just to go over and learn, especially in some different conditions," said the 24-year-old, who scored 128 runs with a strike-rate of 150.58 in the first three games.

    "It's nice to experience conditions away from home and since then I've had the opportunity to go to a few other places as well, but it's always nice to come back and be in the black caps environment and be surrounded by close mates and people that back you."

    The right-handed batter was signed by the five-time IPL champions ahead of the 2025 season but did not get a game.

    Jacobs has made steady progress since making his international debut against South Africa in June 2024. He has scored 311 runs in 14 T20 matches at an average of 34.55 and a strike rate of 146.00, including two half-centuries.

    Excited to play at home, Jacobs also spoke about the significance of playing in front of a packed Eden Park crowd.

    "The big one is obviously 2015 World Cup. I was in the stands watching, and that was the last time I was at Eden Park when it was sold out. For it to be now, and me being able to play, it's a full-circle, dream-come-true sort of moment," he said.

    When asked about a fitness update on opener Finn Allen, Jacobs said: "Look, I don't know how Finn's body is feeling, but he was batting out there today and looked pretty good. He always looks a million bucks, so hopefully he goes out there and hits some bombs."

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)