ICC Cricket World Cup 2023: Mitchell Santner achieves a rare milestone for New Zealand

Mitchell Santner picked up a 5-wicket haul against Netherlands in Hyderabad.

New Zealand thrashed Netherlands by 99 runs in their second league game. New Zealand have begun their ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 in style as they won the first two games by heavy margins. They defeated England by nine wickets in Ahmedabad, and now they have thrashed the Netherlands by 99 runs. New Zealand will be traveling to Chennai as they will be taking on Bangladesh in their next encounter. New Zealand have put up an all-round performance to settle themselves at the top of the points table.

As Kiwis go hard against their opposition, New Zealand all-rounder Mitchell Santner has created history with his magical bowling performance against Dutch. Santner has become the first-ever Blackcaps spinner to pick up a 5-wicket haul in the World Cup. Santner was also awarded player of the match for his 5-wicket haul and for creating history as a Kiwi spinner. Mitchell Santner conceded 59 runs in his 10 overs and picked up five wickets.

Santner joins in the elite list

Mitchell Santner has also become the 6th Blackcaps bowler to pick up a 5-wicket haul in the World Cup. He has joined Richard Hadlee, Shane Bond, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, and Jimmy Neesham in the elite list of bowlers with a 5-wicket haul in a World Cup game. Former all-rounder Richard Hadlee was the first ever Kiwi bowler to break the record, as he picked five against Sri Lanka in the 1983 World Cup game played at County Ground in Bristol.

Mitchell Santner also played a magnificent knock helped New Zealand to reach a total of 322. Kiwi lower- order was struggling to carry the momentum in the final overs, but Santner’s 36 runs knocked in 17 balls took New Zealand to 322 runs in 50 overs. Along with Santner, pacer Matt Henry also contributed to batting as well as bowling. Henry and Santner added 29 runs on the last eight balls. Henry also went on to pick up three wickets with his pace bowling.

New Zealand are now at the top of the table with two back-to-back wins in their first two encounters. New Zealand have gotten 4 points in 2 games, and their net run rate is almost close to a positive 2 (+1.958) with their big wins in the mega event. New Zealand will be playing their next two games against Bangladesh and Afghanistan. They will take on Bangladesh on October 13 and Afghanistan on October 18 at Chepauk Stadium in Chennai.