On Monday, New Zealand thrashed the Netherlands in the third and final ODI by 115 runs. The hosts clean swept the Dutch side in a 3-match ODI series. With this win, the BlackCaps earned 30-points from this series and have climbed up to the eighth spot in the ICC CWC Super League, giving a well-deserved farewell to Ross Taylor.
Stephen Myburgh teed off and bashed the BlackCaps bowlers all around the park in the final game of the series, chasing a mammoth target of 334 runs. Myburgh and O’Dowd started on a positive note, as the duo added 81 runs for the first wicket. Myburgh struck thirteen fours, and a maximum in 64 runs off 43 deliveries in his quick-fire innings.
After his dismissal, the hosts put the brakes on any momentum and pushed the visitors back. However, Netherlands kept losing wickets at regular intervals, bundling out for 218 in 42.3-overs. In the end, Logan van Beek struck some lusty blows to avoid utter humiliation at the hand of the hosts.
Matt Henry racked up four wickets, giving away just 36-runs in his 7.3 overs. While the bowler was on the receiving end of Myburgh’s onslaught, he came back in the middle overs to dent the Dutch’s progress. The pacer broke the Dutch side in the 29th over as he dismissed Bas de Leede and Pieter Seelaar on consecutive deliveries.
Earlier, Tom Latham won the toss and opted to bat on a used surface at Seddon Park. They didn’t get the start they were hoping for as they lost Henry Nicholls early in the contest.
New Zealand were 12/1 after 4.3-overs, but Martin Guptill and Will Young brought the innings back on track as the duo put up a big partnership for the second wicket racking their respective hundreds in the contest.
Fred Klaassen broke the 203-run partnership for the second wicket as he picked up the important wicket of Guptill.
Then the big moment came as Ross Taylor walked out to bat for one final time in his international career. He received massive applause from the audience and a deserved guard of honor from the opponents. He batted without any pressure, struck his favourite slog sweeps, and cut shots. Taylor connected one of them for a maximum to deep mid-wicket. But this shot was also the reason for his dismissal. Taylor ended his ODI career with 14 runs to his name.
Will Young was trapped in front of the stumps by Aryan Dutt at his career-best score of 120 from 112 deliveries. Later in the last few overs, Doug Bracewell (22 off 9) and skipper Tom Latham (23 off 17) struck some cracking blows and took the team’s total well over the 300-run mark. They ended at 333/8 in the allotted 50 overs.
During the presentation, Ross Taylor was given a Samoan necklace and a framed photo of him and his career stats. Martin Snedden presented this on behalf of the New Zealand Cricket Board.
Brief Scores
New Zealand- 333/8 (50)
Will Young- 120(112), Martin Guptill- 106 (123)
Clayton Floyd- 2-41(7.0), Aryan Dutt- 2-49(6.0)
Netherlands- 218 (42.3)
Stephen Myburgh- 63(43), Logan van Beek- 32(36)
Matt Henry- 4-36(7.3), Doug Bracewell- 2-23(7.0)
New Zealand won by 115-runs and won the series 3-0.