* Southee and Boult picked up five wickets between them to demolish Uganda (Match 32)
By Dwayne Ferreira
Trent Boult delivered searing, full inswing, while Tim Southee targeted the stumps as New Zealand’s bowlers demolished Uganda’s batting lineup. Mitchell Santner and Rachin Ravindra later tested both edges of the bat with their left-arm spin, sealing the collapse.
Uganda’s inexperienced batters struggled against the quality of New Zealand’s bowling, resulting in another collapse at the T20 World Cup. Uganda were all out for 40 in the 19th over, with only Kenneth Waiswa reaching double figures. The team struck just three boundaries and frequently failed to find scoring options, as New Zealand’s bowlers continuously beat their bats.
New Zealand chased down the target in 5.2 overs, losing only one wicket in the process.
Even top batters from more established teams would have been tested by Boult’s first over. He started with a couple of inswinging yorkers to Ronak Patel, who managed to get off strike on the second ball. Boult’s next two deliveries were big-swinging and pinpoint, first trapping left-hander Simon Ssesazi plumb in front and then cleaning up Robinson Obuya with a delivery that curved in through the gate.
After Boult’s double-wicket over, conceding just one run, Southee bowled a maiden, followed by another maiden from Boult—leaving Uganda’s top order often unable to make contact. The pair bowled right through the powerplay, leaving Uganda at 9 for 3, with Southee trapping Alpesh Ramjani in front in his second over.
Santner, Lockie Ferguson, and Ravindra then took over. Santner struck first, drawing the outside edge of Ronak, which was nicely held by wicketkeeper Devon Conway. Ferguson then took out Waiswa’s stumps. Even Riazat Ali Shah and Dinesh Nakrani looked incapable of scoring against New Zealand. By the end of the 14th over, Uganda were seven down for 27, their only minor consolation being that they avoided their lowest T20 total ever (39 against West Indies).
The chase was largely smooth. Uganda’s only wicket came with a touch of good fortune, as Riazat got Finn Allen caught down the leg side with a full delivery. New Zealand initially had trouble hitting boundaries, finding the rope only twice in the first four overs. However, with such a small target, singles and twos were sufficient. Conway finished the game with back-to-back boundaries off Jumo Miyagi.
Chief Scores
Ugando 40 all out in 13.4 overs (Tim Southee 3 for 4, Trent Boult 2 for 7, Mitchell Santner 2 for 8, Rachindra Ravindra 2 for 9)
New Zealand 41 for 1 in 5.2 overs (Devon Conway 24 not out)
Player of the Match – Tim Southee
