T20 World Cup | Martin Guptill’s 93 notched up New Zealand’s 16-run win over Scotland

Chasing 173 runs, Scotland could manage only 156 for five in 20 overs, with Michael Leask scoring the highest 42 runs.

Opener Martin Guptill’s blistering 56-ball 93, built around monstrous sixes and official batting, propelled New Zealand to a 16-run win over Scotland in a spirited T20 World Cup match in Dubai on Wednesday. Of.

Guptill hit a total of seven sixes and six fours as New Zealand posted 172 for five in a Group 2 Super 12 match. Scotland responded at 156 for five in their allotted 20 overs at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Michael Leask hit an unbeaten 42 off 20 balls, but his effort was not enough for the Scots.

Most of his big hits were directed towards the mid-wicket region and by the time he finished with his knock, Guptill had recovered from exhaustion in the scorching heat.

One of New Zealand’s prolific run-scorers in as many years, Guptill added 105 runs for the fourth wicket with Glenn Phillips (33) to put his team in a commanding position.

Asked to bat first, New Zealand got off to a brisk start with Guptill taking the lead in the company of Daryl Mitchell (13).

Bradley Wheel (2/40) bowled 13 runs in the very first over of the match, but Safyan Sharif (2/28) got off to a great start conceding just one run in the next over.

Playing the game in place of an injured Josh Davey, Alasdair Evans was hit for two consecutive fours through the point area by Guptill, the batsman completely disdained on both occasions.

Mitchell also hit himself for a boundary against the wheel but in the fifth over, Sharif trapped the opener in front of the wicket. The batsman challenged the on-field umpire’s decision, but was unsuccessful.

Just in the middle of the first spell, seamer Sharif got the big wicket of New Zealand captain Kane Williamson (0) four balls later, as a diving Matthew Cross completed a fine catch behind the stumps, as the batsman could not connect properly while playing it. failed in down on the foot.

Irrespective of a double blow, Guptill maxed out Evans over the backward square leg fence as the Kiwis scored 52 runs during the power play, 16 of which came in the sixth over.

With that big hit, Guptill became the second batsman after Indian skipper Virat Kohli to cross 3000 runs in T20 Internationals.

Scotland had another breakthrough after the start of spin for the first time, when slow left-hander Mark Watt dismissed Devon Conway (1) off his first ball in the seventh over.

Only 18 runs came between the 6th and 10th overs as Scotland tightened the situation.

However, the Scots had no answer to the attack launched on him by Guptill, who slammed his best bowler Sharif for two sixes.

There was also a six that traveled 102 metres, the second highest in the Super 12 stage.

However, New Zealand’s innings lost some momentum after his dismissal as they could not manage to score only 22 runs in the last three overs.

Captain Kyle Coetzer (17) made a strong start for Scotland, hitting New Zealand’s leading fast bowler Trent Boult for fours on either side of the wicket.

Coetzer fired Tim Southee through cover-point for a boundary and then played a superb square drive on the back foot against Boult, who deceived the batsman with a slow off-cutter to his man two balls later.

Two balls later, George Munsey (22) played one of the best shots of the day when he played Boult through the line.

After two quiet overs, Matthew Cross (27) hit Adam Milne for five consecutive fours as Scotland posted 48 runs in the power play.

Munsey hit Ish Sodhi for two sixes, but trying to hit one too high, he was soon dismissed, thanks to a brilliant catch from a sliding Southee, which took Scotland for 76 for three in the 12th over. Comes back to knock on Cross’s stumps to leave. contacted.

From there, Scotland’s innings could not gather the momentum needed to challenge their arch opponents, despite a lusty hit from Michael Leask.

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