Top Wicket-takers in ODI World Cup 2023 After NZ vs NED: Mitchell Santner Takes Top Spot After 5-fer

New Zealand kept the momentum going in the ODI World Cup 2023, registering their second consecutive win on Sunday. Riding on Mitchell Santner’s all-round show, the Black Caps defeated the Netherlands by 99 runs in Hyderabad. The clinical win took them to the top of the table with four points while Santner notched the top spot on the list of highest wicket-takers in the ongoing tournament with seven scalps to his credit.

Santner became the first New Zealand spinner to take five wickets in a World Cup match. He complimented his quick-fire 36 off 17 balls with the magical figures of 5 for 59 in 10 overs. He dismissed Max ODowd (16), Colin Ackermann (69), Scott Edwards (30), Roelof van der Merwe (1) and Ryan Klein (8) to bag his second five-wicket haul in the 50-over format.

AlSO READ | Methodical Santner Shines in New Zealand’s Facile Win Over Netherlands

Santner’s teammate Matt Henry finished with 3-40 to wrap up the match as both bowlers placed on the top of the wicket-taker’s table. Dutch all-rounder Bas de Leede currently standing 3^rd with 5 wickets. Bangladesh’s Mehidy Hasan Miraz (3 wickets) and ace Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja (3 wickets) are placed 4^th and 5^th respectively.

It was the Netherlands’ second consecutive defeat after losing its opening game against Pakistan by 81 runs. New Zealand had already avenged its narrow defeat in the 2019 World Cup final after beating England by nine wickets in Ahmedabad last week.

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Captains’ Remarks

Tom Latham, New Zealand stand-captain: “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.”

Scott Edwards, Netherland captain: “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 the 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.”