NZ vs NED | 1st ODI: Hosts push aside the Dutch to lead series 1-0

New Zealand came on top with a seven-wicket victory against the Netherlands in the first ODI on Tuesday (March 29, 2022) at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui. They lead 1-0 in the three-match series.

Will Young, who was filling in the massive shoes of Kane Williamson for this series, showcased his talent by registering his maiden century in his ODI career. He converted his maiden ODI fifty to maiden ODI hundred, which guided the hosts past their visitor's total.
   

Chasing an easy target of 203-runs, Kiwis lost Martin Guptill very early. He edged one to the keeper as they were reduced to 12-1 in the 4th over.

Coming out to bat at number three, Young found the middle of the bat straight away. He even took on Logan van Beek in the 8th over for three consecutive boundaries. However, this was just the beginning. Along with Henry Nicholls, he stitched together a match-winning partnership of 162-runs for the second wicket. In the process, both got past their respective fifties.       

As the game moved along, Michael Rippon took a couple of wickets which put the brakes on the Kiwi run chase. At first, he removed Nicholls (57 off 79), who chopped on a fuller ball on a cut. Later, he ripped through the gates of Ross Taylor cheaply, who came into bat at the Bay Oval for one final time.   

Black Caps skipper, Tom Latham, walking in at five, ensured no further hiccups in the chase. He also ensured that Young got to his century before the target was chased. 

The Central Districts' star took 17-deliveries to get to the hundred from his 90s. He came down the track to Phillippe Boissevain and smoked him over the mid-off for a boundary to bring up his maiden ODI century and a victory to his side with 11.3 overs remaining.

Earlier, on a pitch that was covered with grass, Pieter Seelaar won the toss and surprisingly batted first. However, it proved to be wrong as Kyle Jamieson and Co. utilized the conditions from the start itself. Finally, Max O'Dowd tickled one down the leg side off Jamieson's bowling, which started the pavilion parade for the visitors. 

Matt Henry then came into the act by dismissing the opener, Stephan Myburgh, for just 11. Then, debutant Blair Tickner took apart the middle order of the Dutch batting line-up alongside Colin de Grandhomme, who supported him with a wicket. As a result, the Netherlands were reduced to 45/5 in 13 overs.

Otago Volts star Michael Rippon, alongside his skipper Pieter Seelaar, joined hands to put together a partnership of 80-runs for the sixth wicket to save their pride. There was a rain break between this, which lasted for about 10-15 minutes. Seelaar fell short of his fifty by just seven runs as Tickner showed his class with the ball again.

Rippon got some help from their lower order batters which got them past the 200-run mark. Van Beek (14 off 14) struck a couple of boundaries, while Boissevain (15 off 27) scored some crucial runs as they eventually got bundled out for 202 in 49.4 overs.

Rippon was the last man to go. But before his departure, he made sure that the team had posted a respectable total on the board. In the process, he raised his bat for only the second time in his ODI career. Finally, he holed out to deep mid-wicket at his score of 67 from 97-deliveries. 

Tickner gave it his all in his debut match as he bowled relentlessly short of a length and was almost close to being in the record books. He ended up with excellent figures of 4/50 in his ten overs. In the attack, Jamieson, the senior pro, also bowled out of his skin and picked up three wickets by giving away 45-runs in 9.4 overs and a maiden in it. 

New Zealand climbed up to the 10th spot in the ICC CWC Super League with this win, while the Netherlands slipped to 13th place.

The second ODI between these two sides will take place on April 2, 2022 (Saturday) at Seddon Park in Hamilton.

Brief Scores:

New Zealand - 204/3 (38.3-overs)

Will Young- 103*(114), Henry Nicholls- 57(74), Michael Rippon- 2/32(8.0)

Netherlands - 202(49.4 overs)

Michael Rippon- 67(97), Pieter Seelaar- 43(75)

Blair Tickner- 4/50(10), Kyle Jamieson- 3/45(9.4) 

New Zealand won by seven wickets