Blair Tickner and Ben Sears cut through Netherlands as New Zealand defend 148
Bas de Leede made an impressive 66 but the rest of the batting struggled
ESPNcricinfo staff
04-Aug-2022
Blair Tickner took out the Netherlands top order (file photo) • Corbis via Getty Images
New Zealand 148 for 7 (Guptill 45) beat Netherlands 132 (de Leede 66, Tickner 4-27, Sears 3-22) by 16 runs
Blair Tickner and Ben Sears shared seven wickets as New Zealand overcame a spirited Netherlands display to claim the first T20I in The Hague.
New Zealand had to work hard to post 148 for 7 as the home side's spinners made life tricky with Jimmy Neesham's 32 off 17 providing important late impetus.
Tickner then knocked over Netherlands' top order, which included the ungainly dismissal of Max O'Dowd who was left flat in the crease after trying to scoop, as they slipped to 15 for 3 in the fourth over.
Bas de Leede and captain Scott Edwards brought some stability with a stand of 49 to keep Netherlands in the hunt, but the partnership was broken when Glenn Phillips added another entry to his fielding highlights reel with a superb swooping catch in the deep to claim Edwards.
Sears then caused problems with his pace, finding the top of Teja Nidamanuru with keeper Dave Cleaver jumping to take another smart catch.
At 93 for 7 the game was just about done and it was too much for de Leede to overhaul despite his fine hand of 66 off 53 balls which ended in the final over to give Tickner his fourth.
New Zealand had not been able to stamp their authority with the bat with Finn Allen, despite one six, not getting going in the powerplay which saw them 33 for 2 after six overs.
They had only moved as far as 60 for 2 at the halfway mark and by the 15th over that had become an uncertain 95 for 5 with legspinner Shariz Ahmad removing Daryl Mitchell and Phillips - the latter to a sharp caught-and-bowled - while Martin Guptill had picked out deep square having anchored the innings.
The momentum changed in the 17th over when Neesham took Logan van Beek for 22 including two sixes although he fell to the last ball of the over. Ish Sodhi then helped take 20 from the 19th over included a brace of sixes for himself.
Between them Netherlands' spinners took 4 for 80 from their 12 overs with Ahmad and Tim Pringle particularly impressive.
The second and final T20I takes place on Friday.
