Dominant NZ continue their run of form
While some critics may dismiss New Zealand's recent victory over the Netherlands as merely a match against so-called minnows, it's essential to delve deeper into the context of the situation. This Dutch team, often considered an underdog, demonstrated their potential when they faced Pakistan. In that match, they managed to grab Pakistan by the throats, figuratively speaking, and came perilously close to causing a significant upset before ultimately succumbing.
Thus, New Zealand's win against the Netherlands, though expected by many, should not be hastily brushed aside. It's a testament to their consistent performance and the importance of not underestimating any opponent in the world of sports. The Dutch team's ability to push Pakistan to the brink serves as a reminder that in sports, anything can happen, and teams often prove their mettle when least expected.
So what exactly happened today.
The Dutch bowlers started off impressively during the initial part of the first innings by preventing New Zealand from scoring any runs in the first three overs. However, once New Zealand managed to break the drought and get off the mark, the runs began to flow freely, much like water flowing in a river.
As the innings progressed, New Zealand's batsmen found their rhythm, and everyone in the team contributed effectively. Rachin Ravindra, who had previously scored a century in the opening game, continued his fine form by adding a half-century this time. Additionally, a quickfire cameo from Santner added further impetus to the innings.
By the time the 50 overs were completed, New Zealand had amassed a total of 322/7. This comprehensive performance from their batsmen highlighted their ability to recover from a slow start and build a substantial score, putting them in a strong position in the match.
The mountain of 322 runs turned out to be a bit too much for the Dutch batsmen to climb. Mitchell Santner ended up taking the first five-for of this world cup, much like the first century coming from the NZ team itself to cap off an excellent day in the field for him.
Next up, NZ will face off against Bangladesh against whom they will be overwhelming favourites given their form. The return for Kane Williamson will also make the side near perfect, devoid of any chinks in the armour. As far as the Dutch are concerned, they will be playing South Africa against whom they would look to turn to the last year’s t20 world cup for inspiration when they defeated the proteas in an upset.
Score Card: New Zealand 322/7 (Will Young 70(80), Tom Latham 53(46), Rachin Ravindra 51(51), Roelof Van der Merwe 2/56, Paul van Meekeren 2/59, Aryan Dutt 2/62) beat Netherlands 223/10 (Colin Ackerman 69(73), Scott Edwards 30(27), Mitchell Santner 5/59, Matt Henry 3/40)
