Three wickets in as many overs from fast bowler Blair Tickner has inspired the Blackcaps to a comfortable victory over the Netherlands in their Twenty20 clash at The Hague.
Tickner removed both openers, as well as middle-order batter Tom Cooper to have the hosts 15/3 after just four overs, in their chase of 149 set by New Zealand.
The Blackcaps batters struggled to kick on from their early starts, with opener Martin Guptill top-scoring with 45 from 36 balls.
New Zealand recovered from 95/5 to post 148/7 after their twenty overs, thanks to a quick-fire 32 off 17 balls from Jimmy Neesham, and 19 from 10 from bowler Ish Sodhi.
Blackcaps top-order batters, Finn Allen (8) and Dane Cleaver (2) departed cheaply, before Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips attempted to rescue the innings.
But the pair struggled to find their feet, with Mitchell losing his wicket for 15, and Philips caught and bowled for a run-a-ball 14 runs.
The Netherlands mixed up their bowling attack effectively, particularly with their spin bowlers, to restrict New Zealand to a modest total.
However, the hosts couldn't captalise in their run chase, with Tickner's powerplay strikes all but setting up a Blackcaps victory.
Netherlands no.3 batter Bas de Leede tried his best to resurrect their chase with a valiant 66 off 53 balls, including two maximums.
But struggled to find support, with only wicket-keeper and captain Scott Edwards offering some resolve with 20 off 16 balls, before he lost his wicket.
Fast bowler Ben Sears grabbed three wickets, at an economy of just over five an over, and was supported well by Mitch Santner and Sodhi, picking up a wicket apiece.
Tickner grabbed his fourth and final wicket of de Leede in the last over to bowl the Netherlands out for 132 to seal the win for New Zealand.
Blackaps 148/7 (Guptill 45, Neesham 32, Sodhi 19; Shariz Ahmad (2/15)
Netherlands 132 (De Leede 66, Edwards 20; Tickner 4/27, Sears 3/22
