A blistering bowling attack saw New Zealand beat Netherlands by 16 runs in the Black Caps' penultimate T20 international match of their European tour on Thursday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Winning the toss and opting to bat, Kiwi captain Mitchell Santner's team battled to get going on a sluggish hybrid pitch at the scenic Voorburg Cricket Club.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Driven by a determined 45 off 36 balls by veteran batsman Martin Guptill and a late flurry of shots by Jimmy Neesham and Ish Sodhi, New Zealand scraped together 148 after 20 overs -- just enough to see them fend off a determined Dutch fightback in the second innings.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"It was probably a slow wicket, but we did well to scratch to 150," Santner said after the match.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"The quickfire runs changed the momentum for us. Taking wickets during the powerplay was key," he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Paceman Blair Tickner ripped into the Dutch batting line-up, claiming the scalps of both openers, veteran Stephan Myburgh (5) and Max O'Dowd (2).<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Tickner ended with figures of 4-27 in 3.3 overs, followed by Ben Sears who returned an impressive 3-22.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Dutch staged a feisty fightback, led by rising star Bas de Leede, who hit a hard-charging 66 off 53 balls, including five fours and two sixes.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
De Leede put on a 49-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Scott Edwards before the Dutch captain fell to a brilliant catch by Glenn Phillips off the bowling of Santner for 20.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Earlier, disciplined Dutch fielding and tight spin-bowling by the Netherlands restricted New Zealand to 148-7.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Black Caps appeared well-set to pass 200 until Neesham was brilliantly caught by De Leede on the boundary off a full toss.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Dutch, much improved from their performance in the field against England earlier in the season, remained sharp.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Their best bowler, the diminutive Shariz Ahmad caught and bowled a dangerous-looking Phillips (14) and ended with figures of 2-15 in three overs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"The 148 definitely looked makeable," Edwards lamented after the game.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Bassie (De leede) was brilliant. But we were a little behind the eight-ball. It became a bit tricky," he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n