World T20: Fiery McCullum steers NZ to victory

Black Caps thump Netherlands to earn second win in event.

CHITTAGONG:

Brendon McCullum hit a robust half-century to steer New Zealand to a comprehensive six-wicket win over the Netherlands in a World Twenty20 Super-10 game in Chittagong on Saturday.

McCullum hit 45-ball 65 with three sixes and four boundaries to make easy work of a 152-run target, which New Zealand chased down in 19 overs.

McCullum also became the first man to reach 2,000 runs in Twenty20 cricket, when he scored 21 in his 67th match.

The victory gives New Zealand their second win in three games, while the Netherlands crashed out of the event with three defeats in as many games.

McCullum added 42 for the second wicket with Kane Williamson (29) and another 46 for the fourth wicket with Corey Anderson, who made an unbeaten 20.

McCullum holed out in the 17th over off paceman Timm van der Gugten who took three for 30 in his four overs.

But he was not provided any support from the other Dutch bowlers as New Zealand's strong batting line-up proved too good for them.

"Definitely, Netherlands put up a really good fight," said man-of-the-match McCullum.

"There was a lot of talk about their game against Sri Lanka [Netherlands out for 39], but we had a lot of respect for them."

The losing captain Peter Borren said McCullum made the chase easy.

"Brendon got them through, but if we'd got him early something could have happened."

Earlier, Borren made 49 and Tom Cooper scored an unbeaten 40 as the two were involved in a 60-run fourth wicket stand off just 35 balls to steer their team to 151 for four in 20 overs.

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Published in The Express Tribune, March 30^th, 2014.

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