"Credit to the boys upfront with the bat, they gave us a nice platform" - Mitchell Santner

New Zealand won by 99 runs over the Netherlands in the 6th match of the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. The Netherlands won the toss and opted to bowl first. Batting first, New Zealand managed to post 322 runs in their allotted 50 overs.

While chasing, Netherlands could only manage 223 runs before getting all out in 46.3 overs. Colin Ackermann top-scored with 69 but his efforts were not enough as they eventually lost the game.

Who said what after the match?

Tom Latham said: “We would have bowled. We did a great job with the bat. We managed to build partnerships. Put a great score on the board and the bowlers did a fantastic job. Partnership after partnership allowed us to go into the death a little bit earlier. I tried to be proactive with the changes. The spinners were outstanding. Mitch got the rewards. The big boys did a good job upfront. Great to see him (Lockie) back. Every ground you go to, it’s about adapting. We are not too far away (from having the full squad available).”

Scott Edwards said: “We were pretty good in the first 40 overs. They got away from us in the last 3 overs which pushed the score a little bit further than we were hoping. If we could hold them to 280-300 mark, the wicket gets a little better at night. NZ are a disciplined bowling attack, they are not going to make it easy for you. You are not going to chase down 321 with 40s, 50s and 60s. We will speak about that with the boys. Come the next few games, we have to put on bigger partnerships and bigger scores. For us, it’s another game, we have to play our best cricket and try to win.”

Mitchell Santner, who won the Player of the Match, said: “Not too bad, credit to the boys upfront with the bat, they gave us a nice platform. There was a bit of a hole in the middle but we did well to get past 320. It skidded a bit under lights but we contained them and bowled well. It was nice tonight, got a lot of purchase, didn’t bowl my best tonight but happy to get the rewards. We hung in and picked wickets in partnerships, we managed to take wickets like we did against England to slow them down. Today it was slower, held on the pitch and their spinners bowled really well too.”