New Zealand improved their chances of advancing to the semi-finals of the T20 Cricket World Cup after beating Scotland by 16 runs in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. After being sent in to bat, New Zealand set Scotland a target of 173 for victory. New Zealand then restricted Scotland to 156 to secure a comfortably 16-run victory.
New Zealand openers, Martin Guptill and Daryl Mitchell had a reasonable start scoring 35 runs. Safyaan Sharif got Scotland the breakthrough when he sent Mitchell packing for 13. New Zealand found themselves on 52 for three after losing two wickets cheaply. Sharif removed Kane Williamson for a duck for his second wicket with Mark Watt sending Devon Conway back to the pavilion for a single. Conway was caught behind by wicketkeeper, Matthew Cross, after an attempted reverse sweep.
Guptill and Glenn Phillips’s 105-run partnership took New Zealand to 157 before Scotland struck again. Brad Wheal removed Guptil for 93 with Chris Greaves taking the catch at midwicket. Wheal followed that up with the wicket of Phillips with his next delivery with the right-hander departing for 33. New Zealand reached 172 for the loss of five wickets in their 20 overs.
In reply, Scotland didn’t have the best of starts. Trent Boult removed Kyle Coetzer for 17 in the third over. Cross and George Musey rebuilt Scotland’s innings, contributing 45 runs to take Scotland to 66. Ish Sodhi got New Zealand the breakthrough when he sent Munsey packing for 22. Tim Southee removed Cross for 27 to leave Scotland on 76 for 3. Scotland reached 156 in their 20 overs for the loss of five wickets.
