ICC World Cup Cricket 2015: New Zealand vs Scotland, Pool A match at Dunedin in caricatures

ICC World Cup Cricket 2015: New Zealand vs Scotland match in caricatures

In a way it was fitting that Scotland played their first match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 at Dunedin, which is called the ‘Edinburgh of the South’.

Winning the toss, Brendon McCullum chose to bowl and in the second over, Trent Boult picked up wickets from his first two balls. Soon Scotland were reduced to 12 for 4 and it seemed that they would struggle to even reach a three figure collectively. ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: Full coverage

The expectations were high from Scotland after Ireland beat West Indies on Monday. Also, Scotland had two good warm-up games where they managed to beat Ireland and came very close to defeat West Indies.

Matt Machan and Richie Berrington added 97 for the fifth wicket with both getting fifties and them getting out. Scotland eventually were bowled out for 142 and when it seemed it will be an easy chase for the hosts, they did the unexpected.

In an attempt to finish off the game as early as possible, New Zealand batsmen attempted hara-kiri. Though they looked comfortable with the run-rate, they lost a flurry of wickets and by the time they got there, they were seven down and in the crease were Daniel Vettori and Adam Milne.

While they completed the chase in the 25th over, their batting approach raises a lot of questions. Had the Scottish fielders held on to their catches, another upset was in sights. At the end, New Zealand got the two points and moved at the top position in the Pool A.

Brief scores:  

Scotland 142 (Matt Machan 56, Richie Berrington 50; Tim Southee 2-35, Trent Boult 2-21, Daniel Vettori 3-24, Corey Anderson 3-18) lost toNew Zealand 146 for 7 in 24.5 overs (Kane Williamson 38; Iain Wardlaw 3-57, Josh Davey 3-40) by three wickets