DUBAI: Michael Leask fought really hard to hand Scotland first victory in the T20 World Cup but New Zealand managed to restrict them to 156-5 and win the match by 16 runs.
Leask went on to score handy 42 runs for Scotland but it weren’t enough to win the match for his team. During his stay, he smoked three boundaries and as many sixes. Another prominent scorer was Matthew Cross who made 27 runs off 29 balls laced with five boundaries.
Trent Boult and Ish Sodhi bagged two wickets each followed by Tim Southee with one wicket. Scotland managed to get 156-5 in 20 overs.
Earlier, Martin Guptill scored unbeaten 93 runs to lead New Zealand to 172-5 in 20 overs.
Put to bat first, New Zealand were marred by a couple of early blows in the form of Daryl Mitchell (13), Kane Williamson (0), and Devon Conway (1).
But, Guptill stood firm and steady on the other end to launch fire power. The right-handed batter brought the Black Caps back in the game by smashing six boundaries and seven sixes to score 92 off 56.
Glenn Phillips supported him well and scored 33 off 37 including only a boundary. He and Guptill together made 105 runs for the fourth wicket.
For Scotland, Brad Wheal and Safyaan Sharif bagged two wickets each while Mark Watt bagged a wicket.
TOSS
Scotland won the toss and decided to field first against New Zealand
SQUADS
Scotland XI: 1 Kyle Coetzer (capt.), 2 George Munsey, 3 Matthew Cross (wk), 4 Richie Berrington, 5 Calum MacLeod, 6 Michael Leask, 7 Chris Greaves, 8 Mark Watt, 9 Safyaan Sharif, 10 Alasdair Evans, 11 Brad Wheal.
New Zealand XI: 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Daryl Mitchell, 3 Kane Williamson (capt), 4 Devon Conway (wk), 5 Glenn Phillips, 6 Jimmy Neesham, 7 Mitchell Santner, 8 Adam Milne, 9 Tim Southee, 10, Trent Boult, 11 Ish Sodhi.
