Netherlands produced a decent show with the ball as New Zealand piled 322/7 in 50 overs after being invited to bat first in the World Cup encounter in Hyderabad. The proceedings kicked-off with Netherlands bowling three consecutive maiden overs, following which Devon Conway and Will Young got into action. The pair added 67 runs in 12 overs before Conway was dismissed for 32(40) by Roelof van der Merwe for 32(40). Young continued his onslaught and added 84 runs with Rachin Ravindra for the second wicket before getting out for 70(80) against Paul van Meekeren.
Ravindra too completed his half-century, while Daryl Mitchell chipped in with a healthy 48(47). New Zealand’s stand-in skipper Tom Latham scored 53(46) before the innings finally concluded with Mitchell Santner producing a late blitz. Santner returned unbeaten on 36(17).
Both sides have tweaked their playing XI. Netherlands brought in Sybrand Engelbrecht and Ryan Klein for the clash, while New Zealand fielded Lockie Ferguson in place of Jimmy Neesham.
Days after securing a superb 9-wicket win against defending champions England, Tom Latham-led New Zealand will hope to continue the winning momentum against the Dutch. New Zealand head into the contest after making a mockery of a stiff 283-run target that too against a tough English attack.
Netherlands, on the other hand, enter the contest after enduring a tough 81-run defeat against Pakistan and will hope to open their account despite the odds stocked against them. Netherlands had plenty of positives to draw from the previous clash, especially Bas de Leede’s all-round show. He claimed four wickets and gave Netherlands a fighting chance by scoring 67(68) in the 287-chase. Apart from him, Vikramjit Singh also scored a half-century.
Key pointers from the clash:
– Netherlands won the toss, opted to field
-Both side tweak their playing XIs
-Netherlands started by bowling three consecutive maiden overs
-Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Tom Latham slammed respective half-centuries
