Santner shines with bat and ball in World Cup 2023 win over Netherlands

The Netherlands’ closest chance of matching New Zealand came in the 47th over of the latter’s innings, with the score at 272-6 and Tom Latham and Mitchell Santner at the crease. It seemed like the Netherlands might be able to restrict their opponents to under 300 for the second time in a row in Hyderabad’s batting-friendly conditions.

Mitchell Santner took charge with the bat in the late overs of New Zealand’s innings, scoring a quickfire 17-ball 32 to help his team post a formidable 322 for 7.

Santner’s innings came after Tom Latham had clubbed Paul van Meekeren for a boundary and a six in the previous over. Santner then ended the over with a cut for four past backward square.

Santner continued to attack in the final over, smoking a couple of sixes off Bas de Leede to take New Zealand to 322 for 7. Santner’s innings was vital for New Zealand, as it helped them to mount a big total and wrestle the momentum back from the Netherlands.

Mitchell Santner has been expected to play this kind of role with the bat: making a small impact that makes a significant difference. Even though he comes into the team as a bowling all-rounder, he is more likely to be a hero with the bat, finishing off a close game.

This was evident in the previous game against England, where he returned figures of 2-37 from his 10 overs, despite the ultra-aggressive batting of the English team. His performance was overshadowed by the unbeaten 273-run stand between Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway, but it was still a valuable contribution.

Santner is often overshadowed by the star pacers, but he plays an important role in the team’s bowling attack. He is a container, while the pacers are the aggressors. In 95 ODIs before the Hyderabad game, he had picked up only 93 wickets. However, his economy rate is excellent, and he is often used to bowl in the middle overs to tighten things up.

Mitchell Santner, the perennial side actor, was the star of the show on Monday, both with the bat and the ball. He backed up his quickfire cameo with a devastating spell of bowling, ripping through the Netherlands’ middle order to claim the first-ever international five-for at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.

Even though the pitch offered turn, its slow and even pace made it easy for the batters to counter Colin Ackermann’s bowling. Ackermann himself admitted that the Netherlands batters played him well, saying, “He mixes his pace pretty well; he was a massive threat. I think we played him pretty well up to a point and then we gave him a couple of soft wickets towards the back end.

Although Colin Ackermann might argue that some of the Netherlands’ shot selections were poor, Santner deserves credit for his clever bowling. In the 35th over, with the required run rate increasing, Netherlands captain Scott Edwards decided to attack Santner, hitting him for a boundary and six followed by a two with a powerful shot. Sensing Edwards’ intent to attack, Santner slowed down the pace and bowled a flighted delivery to tempt him. Edwards fell for the bait, going too early for the ball and miscuing it, top-edging it to the bowler who caught it.

It was great to get the rewards,” said Santner, who took his second ODI five-wicket  haul in New Zealand’s 99-run win. “I don’t think I bowled as well as I did in Ahmedabad. I missed a few more balls, but I kept trying to be aggressive and take wickets. I think that’s the only way to slow down the batters in the middle overs of an ODI World Cup  innings, and I thought we did that very well as a bowling unit.

 With Ish Sodhi on the bench for the first two games, both of which New Zealand won convincingly, Santner is the only frontline spinner in the XI, with support from part-timers Rachin Ravindra and Glenn Phillips. Sodhi may come into his own on the more spin-friendly pitches in Chennai, but for now, the onus is on Santner to keep control.

Santner, who has typically played a containing role in all formats, is excited to be an aggressor in the spin-friendly conditions of India. Having played most of his cricket in New Zealand, where there is not much assistance for spinners, Santner has had to make adjustments to his bowling style.

It’s great to come here and bowl on spinning wickets, which are rare in New Zealand,” Santner said. “My role is slightly different in India. I need to be more aggressive, keep my slips in for longer, and operate with a mid-on up most of the time, with only three fielders back. I want to make the batters play big shots, and if the ball is spinning, I’ll be even more aggressive.

Our role will vary depending on the conditions. On flat pitches, we may need to play a more defensive role and try to get wickets through pressure. But on pitches like tonight, where there is some spin, we can be more aggressive and bowl with a slip in. Rachin also bowled very well tonight, with the same mentality of always trying to get wickets.

Santner is a key player for New Zealand in all formats, but he rarely has a starring role. On Monday, he was the most expensive New Zealand bowler, but he also took four wickets, which was rare but welcome.