New Zealand vs Scotland Highlights, T20 World Cup 2021: NZ Beat SCO by 16 Runs in Dubai

Michael Leask remains unbeaten on 42 off 20 as New Zealand beat Scotland by 16 runs for their second win of the Super-12 stage. Nine runs from the final over, bowled by Adam Milne. Scotland finish with 156/5. A good show from Scots but only in patches. Had they been a little more consistent in both bowling and batting, they could have caused an upset in Dubai today.

Scotland have kept this game alive even though this is now heavily titled in the favour of New Zealand. Michael Leask ends the over of Tim Southee with a six over deep mid-wicket. 13 from the over. Score 147/6 in 19 overs, chasing 173.

Scotland aren’t going down without having some fun in Dubai. Michael Leask has spoiled Ish Sodhi’s figures with a six and two fours off his final three deliveries of the spell. 17 runs from the over. Sodhi’s spell: 4-0-42-2. Scotland 134/5 in 18 overs, chasing 173.

Michael Leask clobbers a six off Trent Boult. They need couple of these hits every over and then some more to keep up with the asking rate. Nine runs from it. Score 117/5 in 17 overs, chasing 173.

End of Ish Sodhi’s third over. A wicket and five runs off it. Scotland 108/5 in 16 overs. Michael Leask batting on 4 off 5 while Chris Greaves is on 1 off 1.

OUT! Wicket no. 2 for Ish Sodhi. With the run-rate climbing, Scotland need big shots. Richie Berrington goes for one such hit but ends up hitting it high towards the short third man where wicketkeeper takes a few steps and claims the catch. Berrington scored 20 off 17. Score 106/5 in 15.4 overs, chasing 173.

So a wicket and three runs in the over of Trent Boult. We are into the final five overs of Scotland innings. They have six wickets remaining – so no shortage of that. But can they meet the asking rate of 14 an over?

OUT! Calum MacLeod looking to scoop one from Trent Boult and in the process, exposes all three stumps. He misses the shot and is clean bowled on 12. Scotland continue to fall behind in the chase losing their fourth wicket. Score 102/4 in 14.5 overs, chasing 173

A good over for Scotland this one. Mitchell Santner has been hard to score runs off today but in his final, Scots add 13 runs to their total. Richie Berrington ends the over with a six off the left-armer that also brings up the team’s 100 runs. Scotland now need 73 off 36 deliveries.

Adam Milne is back after that hiding in the final over of Powerplay from Matthew Cross who has since perished. He drops one shot and Richie Berrington with a fierce pull to deep backward square leg region collects a four. Seven runs from the over. Scotland 87/3 in 13 overs, chasing 173.

Mitchell Santner completes his third over – three singles in it. Scotland 80/3 in 12 overs. They need 93 runs in 48 balls now. Difficult? Yes. Impossible? No.

Tim Southee returns to pick a wicket. Just one run in the over as well. The feel-good factor has quickly disappeared with the dismissals of George Munsey and Matthew Cross as they were the ones who were hitting boundaries with ease. Richie Berrington has now been joined by Calum MacLeod. Scotland 77/3 in 11 overs, chasing 173.

OUT! Tim Southee sends back Matthew Cross on 27. This one came back in after pitching and Cross went on the backfoot but the ball crashed through the gates to land on the stumps. Scotland 76/3 in 10.5 overs, chasing 173.

Ish Sodhi continues. Much better in terms of runs conceded – just five runs off it. Matthew Cross on 27* and Richie Berrington batting on 6*. Scotland need 97 runs in 60 balls to win now. Drinks break.

Another good over from Mitchell Santner. He’s doing what Mark Watt did for Scotland. No easy runs. Just four singles off his second over. Scotland 71/2 in 9 overs, chasing 173.

OUT! Oh dear what have you done George Munsey? Although his dismissal has more to do with the excellent fielding from Tim Southee in the deep. A full toss from Ish Sodhi and Munsey powers it to long-on where a running, sliding Southee holds on to an excellent catch. Munsey had smashed the previous two deliveries for two sixes. He looked in utter disbelief. Munsey scored 22 off 18. Scotland 66/2 in 7.5 overs, chasing 173.

First over of spin from New Zealand now. Left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner into the attack. After that expensive final over of Powerplay, Santner pulls it back with a tidy one allowing just three singles in it. Scotland 51/1 in 7 overs, chasing 173.

BOOM. Matthew Cross had played out a maiden the previous time he faced Adam Milne in the Powerplay. He more than makes up for that with a blistering attack on the Kiwi speedster clubbing five consecutive fours off him – through mid-wicket, to fine leg, through covers, over keeper’s head and over point. 20 runs from the over. Scotland 48/1 in 6 overs, chasing 173.

Tim Southee returns. Two singles and a wide in the over add three runs to Scotland’s total. Score 28/1 in 5 overs, chasing 173.