Santner leads NZ to unbeaten streak in World Cup
New Zealand continued to dominate, securing a commanding 99-run victory against the Netherlands in their second ICC World Cup match held at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Monday, this win keeps New Zealand at the top of the points table with an unblemished record of two wins in two matches.
New Zealand’s slow left-arm bowler, Mitchell Santner, emerged as the star of the match. Not only did he make a significant contribution with the bat, scoring 36 runs off 17 balls in the Kiwis’ innings, but also proved to be a formidable force with the ball. Santner dismantled the Netherlands’ batting lineup, taking a crucial five wickets for just 59 runs. This remarkable performance earned him the well-deserved title of Player of the Match.
The Dutch batters struggled to contend with the Kiwi bowlers, particularly Santner, who claimed the prized wicket of the Netherlands’ top scorer, Colin Ackerman. Ackerman achieved his first World Cup fifty, scoring 69 runs off 75 balls, but it was not enough to change the course of the match. New Zealand’s paceman, Matt Henry, showcased his sheer pace and precision, securing three wickets for 40 runs, ultimately sealing the victory by clean bowling Aryan Dutt for 11 runs.
Will Young, the opener for New Zealand, emerged as the top scorer for his team, amassing a noteworthy 70 runs off 80 balls, which included a couple of powerful sixes and seven elegantly placed boundaries.
Young formed two vital partnerships during his innings, first with fellow opener Devon Conway, accumulating 67 runs together, and later with the in-form Rachin Ravindra, who contributed a quick run-a-ball 51. These partnerships provided New Zealand with a substantial advantage in their innings. Rachin Ravindra, who has been a standout performer in this World Cup, having scored a century (123) in the first match, played a crucial role once again in the middle of New Zealand’s innings.
Additionally, the middle-order contributions of Captain Tom Latham, who scored a half-century with 53 runs off 46 balls, and Daryl Mitchell, who added 48 runs off 47 deliveries, further boosted New Zealand’s run rate, although Mitchell fell just short of another fifty.
Despite New Zealand’s strong batting performance, the Netherlands’ bowlers managed to slow down the Kiwis’ run rate by taking crucial wickets. Glenn Phillips was dismissed for just 4 runs, caught behind off the bowling of Bas de Leede, while Mark Chapman could only manage 5 runs before being dismissed.
Aryan Dutt emerged as the standout bowler for the Dutch side, claiming 2 wickets in his 10 overs while conceding 62 runs, including two maiden overs.
Dutch bowlers Paul van Meekeren (2-59) and Roelof van der Merwe (2-56) played a crucial role in stifling New Zealand’s progress by consistently taking wickets among the top order.
(SJ)
The post Santner leads NZ to unbeaten streak in World Cup appeared first on DailyNews.