New Zealand sweep Netherlands

THE HAGUE, Netherlands, Aug 6, (AP): An unbeaten century partnership between Mitchell Santner and Daryl Mitchell led New Zealand to an eight-wicket win over the Netherlands and Twenty20 series sweep.

Santner scored a career-best 77 not out and Mitchell 51 not out in propelling New Zealand to 149-2 in reply to the Netherlands’ 147-4. They won with six overs to spare.

The Black Caps won the first T20 by 16 runs on Thursday and were even more convincing.

Santner came to the crease in the second over when Martin Guptill was bowled on 2, and his first shot was to hit Tim Pringle over the long on fence.

Finn Allen fell in the next over on 13, and Mitchell joined Santner. They combined for 123 runs in 65 balls, of which only 15 weren’t scored from.

Santner reached his first T20 fifty in 29 balls. He was dropped on 43 and 56.

Mitchell took all of the strike in the 14th over, rushing from 33 with two sixes, a two, and a match-winning boundary to notch his second T20 fifty.

The Dutch chose to bat first and Bas de Leede followed his 66 on Thursday with another team-best 53 not out from 48 balls.

New Zealand completed a European tour that began in late May and moved through England, Ireland and Scotland. They weren’t finished touring, though. They go to West Indies for three T20s and three ODIs from next Wednesday.

A quickfire 39 from Heinrich Klaasen and five wickets for Wayne Parnell ensured South Africa won the second Twenty20 against Ireland by 44 runs .

After losing the toss and being put into bat, South Africa made 182-6 and opener Reeza Hendricks topscored with 42 from 40 balls. Ireland was all out for 138 with seven deliveries remaining.

Hendricks was bowled by Gareth Delany with the first ball of the 12th over and the spinner dismissed Aiden Markram for 27 two balls later to reduce South Africa to 85-4.

However, Klaasen and captain David Miller put on 71 for the fifth wicket to set their side on the way to a competitive total. Miller, 32 not out, smashed three sixes and Klaasen hit two maximums and five boundaries before departing for 39.

Ireland’s reply got off to a nightmare start as Paul Stirling and captain Andrew Balbirnie were dismissed by Parnell without scoring and only four batters reached double figures.