June 15th 2024.
In a match against underdog team Uganda, New Zealand displayed a masterful performance, securing a nine-wicket victory in the T20 World Cup. The left-arm pacer, Trent Boult, and his veteran teammate Tim Southee wreaked havoc on Uganda's batting line-up, causing them to crumble for a dismal 40 runs in 18.4 overs. Impressively, this was just one run short of the lowest total ever recorded in the T20 World Cup.
Uganda's struggle against top-tier teams was evident once again, as they were bowled out for a joint-lowest total of 39 runs against West Indies last week. This further highlighted the gap between them and the more experienced teams in the tournament. However, opener Devon Conway led the charge for New Zealand with a stellar performance, helping them reach their target in just 5.2 overs.
Unfortunately for New Zealand, this win came too late as they had already suffered defeats against Afghanistan and hosts West Indies in their previous games. This meant that they were unable to qualify for the semifinals for the first time in 10 years. Player of the match, Tim Southee, expressed his disappointment at not being able to continue their proud record in World Cups, especially with a team that boasts of plenty of experience.
Against the debutant team Uganda, the Kiwis flexed their muscles, showcasing their dominance in the match. Uganda's batting struggles continued, as they failed to cross the 80-run mark in the entire tournament, ending with a record of three losses and just one win. Despite this, Uganda's skipper Brian Masaba saw the silver lining, stating that their first experience at this level has helped elevate the game in their country. He also expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to interact with top players and learn from their experiences.
New Zealand's bowlers took full advantage of the swinging ball in the powerplay, conceding only 9 runs and claiming three wickets. Boult set the tone for the match with two early strikes, trapping Simon Ssesazi and Robinson Obuya in front of the wickets. However, he was denied a hat-trick by Alpesh Ramjani, who managed to survive a deadly yorker. Southee later joined in on the action, taking two wickets in the fourth over, including Ramjani's, who was trapped in front of the wickets.
As the match progressed, wickets continued to fall for Uganda, with spinners Mitchell Santner and Rachin Ravindra, and pacer Lockie Ferguson also contributing to the destruction. Southee returned in the 18th over to add two more scalps to his name, dismissing Fred Achelam and Juma Miyagi in consecutive deliveries, although he was once again denied a hat-trick. The only Ugandan batter to reach a double-digit score was Kenneth Waiswa, as four others were dismissed without even opening their account.
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