World Cup 2023: Mitchell Santner’s 5-wicket haul powers New Zealand to 99-run victory over Netherlands

New Zealand secured a second successive win at the World Cup as they defeated the Netherlands by 99 runs in Hyderabad on Monday, with Mitchell Santner taking five wickets.

Will Young, Rachin Ravindra and Tom Latham all cracked half-centuries for New Zealand. The Netherlands lost a couple of early wickets while chasing 323 and had some hope when Colin Ackermann (69) was at the wicket, but their target proved too high and they were bowled out for 223 in 46.3 overs, with spinner Santner taking 5-59. New Zealand established a solid foundation with Devon Conway (32), Young (70), Ravindra (51), Daryl Mitchell (48), and Latham (53) all contributing, and while the Dutch responded, they leaked runs late in the innings, allowing the 2019 runners-up to post 322-7 in 50 overs.

After winning the toss and electing to bowl, the Dutch spin-pace duo of Aryan Dutt and Ryan Klein started with three straight maiden overs, but Young and Conway quickly broke the shackles to get New Zealand back on track. Young was patient and reached his sixth half-century before carting Colin Ackermann for a massive six in the 22nd over, but the aggressive Conway looked to accelerate and holed out to Bas de Leede in the deep off Roelof van der Merwe.

In the company of the in-form Ravindra, he continued to collect easy runs off the Netherlands bowlers but then skied a shorter one from Paul van Meekeren straight to De Leede at mid-on. Ravindra, who hit a quick century against defending champions England, followed that up with a steady fifty but fell soon after as he edged Van der Merwe off his legs to captain Scott Edwards.

Mitchell and skipper Latham kept the scoreboard ticking over quickly, but their dismissals slowed things down before Santner hit an unbeaten 36 off 17 deliveries as New Zealand scored 50 runs in the final three overs.