Scotland came close to shocking New Zealand but were left to rue their 142-run first innings total. PHOTO: AFP
New Zealand limped to a three-wicket win over Scotland on Tuesday, maintaining World Cup momentum only after the minnows gave the co-hosts’ much-vaunted batting line-up a scare.
New Zealand bundled out Scotland for 142 after putting them in to bat, effectively ensuring there would be no repeat of Monday’s shock when Ireland, another non-Test nation, downed the West Indies.
While the Black Caps overhauled their target in just 24.5 overs, they could have been in trouble had they been set a stiffer chase after a strong effort with the ball saw Scotland take seven wickets.
New Zealand made a meal of the small run chase and several Kiwi batsmen got out playing rash shots, showing more signs of complacency than the controlled aggression that has made them one of the favourites of the tournament.
Captain Brendon McCullum fired a warning at his players and said they cannot afford to be so wasteful in Wellington on Friday when the co-hosts face an England side desperate to bounce back from a 111-run loss to Australia. “It was a really good performance with the ball — with the bat, we showed glimpses but we have to improve,” said McCullum. “England will be a challenge — they’re hurting, they’ll be tough to beat and we’ll have to play incredibly well.”
The Black Caps fielded an unchanged line-up from their 98-run win over Sri Lanka, determined not to drop their standards against the unfancied opposition.
They appeared all set for a crushing win in perfect conditions at Dunedin’s University Oval, claiming early wickets to leave Scotland reeling at 12-4 as new-ball pair Trent Boult and Tim Southee claimed a couple of wickets each and both came close to claiming a hat-trick.
Matt Machan, who made 56, and Richie Berrington, who made 50, were the standouts with a 97-run fifth-wicket partnership in a Scottish innings that featured five ducks, four of which were golden.
Corey Anderson and Dan Vettori took three wickets apiece as Scotland folded after 36.2 overs.
New Zealand made hard work of chasing 143 on a pitch were they scored 360 against Sri Lanka last month, with Iain Wardlaw and Josh Davey both taking three wickets for Scotland.
The win was not pretty but man-of-the-match Boult said New Zealand ‘got the job done’.
McCullum (15), Martin Guptill (17) and Ross Taylor (9) all went cheaply, leaving New Zealand 66-3 early in the innings.
Kane Williamson made a good start and reached 38 before he too suffered a rush of blood to the head. Luke Ronchi, who scored an unbeaten 170 against Sri Lanka at the venue last month, then managed just 12 before he was dismissed trying to cart Davey out of the ground.
But the target proved too short as Vettori finished off the job with eight runs off four balls.
The loss leaves Scotland still searching for a World Cup win in their third appearance at the tournament. Their next match is against England in Christchurch on Monday.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 18th, 2015.
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