New Zealand continued their impressive form in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 (CWC23) with another dominating performance against the Netherlands at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. The Kiwis fell just short of a total of 322/7, leaving the Dutch trailing by 99 runs.
While the Netherlands displayed flashes of good batting, they couldn’t come together as a cohesive unit. Colin Ackermann was the highest scorer with 69 runs, and notable contributions came from Scott Edwards (30) and Sybrand Engelbrecht (29).
Mitchell Santner shone for New Zealand, not only with his quickfire 36* but also by claiming the first five-wicket haul (5/59) of the tournament. This achievement marked a historic moment as Santner became the first New Zealand spinner to achieve a five-wicket haul in Men’s Cricket World Cup history.
New Zealand adopted an aggressive approach throughout their innings to achieve a substantial total in Hyderabad. Will Young top-scored with 70 runs, and other key contributors included Rachin Ravindra (51), Tom Latham (53), and Daryl Mitchell (48). The Netherlands’ bowling effort was led by Aryan Dutt (2/60) and Paul van Meekeren (2/59).
The Dutch encountered a setback when Teja Nidamanuru (21), who was looking in fine touch, was run out due to a mix-up in the middle during the 26th over. Colin Ackermann (69) and Scott Edwards (30) attempted aggressive shots to close in on the target but both fell victim to Mitchell Santner’s spin.
Santner’s fourth wicket came as Roelof van der Merwe reverse-swept a ball to Matt Henry. Soon after, in the 42nd over, Santner picked up his fifth wicket by trapping Ryan Klein lbw, marking a historic achievement as the first New Zealand spinner to take a five-for in ODI World Cup history. Netherlands eventually folded in the 47th over.
The Dutch chase got off to a shaky start as Vikramjit Singh (12) was bowled in the sixth over by Matt Henry. Max O’Dowd also fell early, lbw in the 11th over. Bas de Leede tried to accelerate the scoring with aggressive shots but was caught by Trent Boult on the boundary in the 17th over in a spectacular fashion, with Boult tossing the ball back in play before crossing the ropes to complete the catch.
Colin Ackermann and Teja Nidamanuru then formed a valuable partnership for the Dutch. After the 25-over mark, New Zealand attempted to increase the scoring rate but lost a few wickets in the process. Young (70) was the first to go in the 27th over, followed by Ravindra (51).
A crucial 53-run partnership between Mitchell and Latham helped New Zealand cross the 200-run mark. However, Mitchell’s dismissal in the final Powerplay triggered a mini-collapse for the Kiwis, losing three wickets for just 16 runs. A half-century from Latham (53) and a quick cameo from Mitchell Santner (36* from 17) boosted New Zealand to a total of 322/7.
Netherlands captain Scott Edwards won the toss for the second consecutive time and chose to field. His counterpart, Tom Latham, mentioned that he would have made the same decision had he won the toss.
The Dutch bowlers delivered three consecutive maiden overs upon taking the field. However, Devon Conway and Will Young refused to be contained, showcasing a flurry of boundaries. Young reached his half-century in the 20th over. While the Kiwis lost Conway (32) during the second Powerplay, Ravindra partnered with Young to maintain the run flow.
Netherlands made two changes to their XI, with Ryan Klein and Sybrand Engelbrecht earning spots in the playing XI. Engelbrecht, a former South Africa U19 player, made his first appearance in competitive cricket since 2016. Logan van Beek was sidelined due to a hamstring strain.
New Zealand welcomed back Lockie Ferguson, replacing James Neesham, while Kane Williamson and Tim Southee were unavailable for selection.
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