New Zealand followed up their comfortable victory against India with a tense but a very important win against Scotland to enhance their chances and move forward in the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Dubai. The Kiwis were put in to bat first by the Scotland captain Kyle Coetzer and after good first four overs, it all went downhill for them.
Connections in Dubai. Thanks for a good match @CricketScotland. #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/dDCwp6qZ25
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) November 3, 2021
Safyaan Sharif dismissed Daryl Mitchell and skipper Kane Williamson in one over and Mark Watt removed Devon Conway as New Zealand lost three wickets for just 18 runs and needed someone to just stop the wicket-flow and the experienced Martin Guptill put his hand up.
Guptill manouvered a couple of overs after the mini-collapse but played his shots because he needed to ensure that the Blackcaps don’t fall behind and get them to a competitive total. Glenn Phillips struggled throughput his innings as apart from one six, he just kept finding fielders.
Phillips was hitting to the fielders while Guptill, on the other end was smashing to all parts. He brought up his half-century and looked well on course to get another T20 century, however, the heat took a toll on him. The moment he was into the late 80s, he was struggling and looking completely drained but still, he marshalled on.
Phillips got out and soon after Guptill followed him, filling agonisingly 7 runs short of his well-deserved 100. Scotland in the last three overs were able to put the squeeze on as New Zealand scored just 22 runs in the last three overs but 172 was a good total and eventually, it proved to be enough, even though the men in purple did give a scare.
New Zealand set Scotland a target of 173Â
Martin Guptill (93) top scores for the @BLACKCAPS. #T20WorldCup | #NZvSCO | https://t.co/Huz67z1YXm pic.twitter.com/QVWkBCF21T
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) November 3, 2021
Matt Cross and Geroge Munsey went after Adam Milne and Ish Sodhi respectively but the problem with every batter from the lower-ranked teams came to light again as either they hit a couple of shots and get too aggressive and give their wicket away or they are too conservative and want to take the game deep and it becomes too late and this innings was a bit of both for the Scottish side.
Cross after hitting five boundaries in one over went into his shell and eventually got out after scoring 27 runs off 29 balls. Berrington, Munsey fell in quick succession leaving Scotland in need of a miracle and Michael Leask provided that.
Leask struck three fours and three sixes as it became too close for comfort for NZ but in the end, it was too much for him. New Zealand won the game by 16 runs and they will be happy to get those two points in the bid to grab the second spot in the table.
