New Zealand ended their T20 World Cup campaign on a winning note, thrashing Uganda by 9 wickets in a clinical display at Trinidad on Friday. After tasting defeat in their opening two matches, the Kiwis produced a comprehensive performance to secure their only victory of the tournament.
Trent Boult and Tim Southee skittle Uganda
Electing to bowl first, New Zealand got off to a dream start. Swing kings Trent Boult (2/7) and Tim Southee (3/4) wreaked havoc on the Ugandan top order, dismantling them with early wickets.
The spin duo of Mitchell Santner (2/8) and Rachin Ravindra (2/9) continued the demolition, restricting Uganda to a meagre total of 40 runs – the lowest score of the tournament so far.
Clinical chase by New Zealand openers
With a paltry target to chase, New Zealand openers Devon Conway and Finn Allen looked untroubled. Though Allen departed early, Conway (22* off 15) dominated the chase, stroking some elegant cover drives to seal the victory in the final over of the powerplay.
New Zealand chased down the target with a staggering 88 balls to spare, showcasing their batting prowess.
Uganda learning curve
Despite the heavy defeat, Uganda can take solace in some positive aspects of their performance. Their bowlers, especially Henry Kyewuta and Frank Nsubuga, displayed promising spells, troubling the Kiwi batsmen for brief periods.
While they were outplayed in this match, the experience gained at the T20 World Cup will undoubtedly be valuable for their cricketing future.
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This victory gives New Zealand two points from their disappointing World Cup campaign. Although they were knocked out early, they can take some satisfaction from ending the tournament on a high note.
