Cricket: Blackcaps captain Mitch Santner steers New Zealand to Twenty20 series whitewash of Netherlands

Mitch Santner.
Mitch Santner. Photo credit: Getty Images

A blistering knock from Mitch Santner has steered the Blackcaps to a Twenty20 series win over the Netherlands at The Hague.

Following their 16-run victory in the first T20 just a day ago, New Zealand wrapped up the two-match series with a dominant eight-wicket win against the hosts.

Santner.
Santner. Photo credit: Getty Images

After winning the toss and electing to bat, the Netherlands batters struggled to get the Blackcaps bowlers away, losing their top three inside the first seven overs.

New Zealand opened the bowling with spinner Michael Bracewell and were rewarded immediately, picking up the wicket of Auckland-born Max O'Dowd in the first over.

Fast bowler Blair Tickner continued his fine form with the wicket of Vikramjit Singh a few overs later, before Bracewell was in the action again to have the Netherlands three down.

But Bas de Leede carried on from his performance in the first T20, with another half-century, finishing unbeaten for 53, including two maximums.

He was well supported by Tom Cooper and Scott Edwards, who finished on 26 apiece, as the Netherlands set the Blackcaps 148 to win.

New Zealand got off to a similarly bad start as their opponents, losing both openers inside the first three overs.

Martin Guptill was the first to go, departing for just two runs, before Finn Allen's exciting cameo of 13 came to an end.

But that was as good as it got for the Netherlands, as the pair's wickets only brought Santer and Daryl Mitchell to the crease.

Santer struck an unbeaten 77 off just 42 balls, including four sixes, while Mitchell finished not out on 51 from 27 balls as New Zealand made light work of the chase.

The Blackcaps needed just 14 overs to haul down the target, and seal the series win against the minnows.

Next up for New Zealand is their tour of the West Indies, which begins with a T20 on August 11.

Netherlands 147/4 (De Leede 53*, Edwards 26*, Cooper 26; Bracewell 2/20)
New Zealand 149/2 (Bracewell 77*, Mitchell 51*; De Leede 1/13)