NZ vs SCO Highlights of T20 World Cup 2021 Match 32: Kiwis Clinch 16-Run Over a Spirited Scotland Side

New Zealand have defeated Scotland by 16 runs in this crucial Group 2 match in Dubai on Wednesday. Batting first, New Zealand scored 172/5 and Scotland put up a tough fight, eventually falling short to lose their third match on the trot. With this, the Kiwis strengthen their chances for making it to the last four. That's it from the live blog!

Scotland might be far from the target but they have ensured that they score some runs and get close to that total before giving up. India would be happy since New Zealand's margin of victory is reducing.

OUT! Richie Berrington is the latest wicket to fall and Ish Sodhi has another wicket to his name. New Zealand are tightening their grip on this game and Scotland are not looking confident enough to get these runs. 

OUT! Scotland have lost Calum MacLeod and now they are in trouble. Boult rattles the stumps behind MacLeod and it is now looking difficult for Scotland from here on.

OUT! Tim Southee has struck and has dismissed Matthew Cross, the player who was key to this chase. The ball went through the gap between bat and pad and rattled the stumps behind Cross. Scotland are three down now!

Scotland continue to stay in the chase despite losing two important wickets. With 76 runs on the board, they would fancy their chances in the last 10 overs and try and win this. We are in for a good contest here!

OUT! After being hit for two sixes, Ish Sodhi has his revenge, dismissing the dangerous George Munsey. The left-hander hit it straight and Tim Southee took a stunning catch to complete the dismissal. New Zealand have got a breakthrough just when it looked like Scotland were getting away with the chase. 

What an over! Matthew Cross hits five cracking boundaries to bring Scotland back into the chase once again. Adam Milne, who bowled a maiden over earlier to Cross, now would be disappointed with this over as the wicketkeeper-batsman has struck 20 runs in six balls to end Scotland's powerplay at 48/1.

A maiden by Adam Milne! A wicket from Trent Boult in the last over and now Milne has bowled a maiden over to new batsman Matthew Cross. New Zealand have bounced back into the match after being hit for few boundaries in the first two overs. 

OUT! New Zealand have got a breakthrough and Trent Boult, after being hit for three fours by Scotland captain Kyle Coetzer, has finally dismissed him. The ball slowed down, got the top edge and Tim Southee took a good catch to complete the dismissal. 

Scotland have got their innings underway with a good over, with captain Kyle Coetzer hitting two fours off Trent Boult. Nine runs off the first over and New Zealand are in pressure right at the beginning of this chase. 

New Zealand have ended their first innings with 172/5 here. They looked like getting much more but Scotland bowled well in the final overs to stem the flow of runs and manage to keep New Zealand to just 172 runs. This is a good total nonetheless and Scotland have to bat well against the likes of Trent Boult and Tim Southee to have a shot at winning this. 

OUT! First Glenn Phillips and now Martin Guptill have perished in consecutive balls here! Phillips, who have been relatively quiet so far, perishes while attempting a big shot. The ball was dug in short and Phillips, trying to hit a big one, gave a catch to Chris Greaves. Guptill, who was tired, hit one down the ground to find the fielder at long-on. Scotland have pulled things back here. 

Martin Guptill is batting beautifully here. He is closing in on a hundred and New Zealand would be really happy with this performance. The right-hander struck seven sixes and he has had an answer to Scotland's bowlers. He is struggling with the heat but his knock has turned out to be incredibly valuable here. 

Martin Guptill has been hitting the ball very nicely and he would hold the key in New Zealand getting to a good total here. The veteran opener has masterfully paced his innings and has not refrained from playing his shots. New Zealand have five more overs to bat. How much would they get? Stay tuned to find out!

FIFTY! Martin Guptill, who has looked good so far, has struck his 18th T20I fifty and he has impressed big time when other top-order batters failed to make a mark. The right-hander completed the milestone of having 3000 T20I runs earlier and now, he would look to play some more shots. 

Martin Guptill is hitting the ball nicely and has struck his second six of this innings. He has been solid from the first over and New Zealand would want him to play his natural game here. The Scotland bowlers too have bowled well but they need another wicket, possibly of Guptill to peg the Kiwis back once again.

Scotland have had a good first 10 overs as they have not let New Zealand run away with a good start by picking wickets regularly. The spinners continued the good work after that two-wicket over by Sarif. New Zealand would rely on Martin Guptill now to make a difference or else Scotland can restrict them to a low total here. 

Scotland are looking good here and have managed to stem the flow of runs. The spinners-Mark Watt and Chris Greaves have done well here to bowl with control and accuracy and they have not let the Kiwi batters play their shots freely. 

OUT! Devon Conway is dismissed and Mark Watt has struck with his first ball for Scotland. New Zealand are looking in trouble at the moment and Conway, while attempting a reverse sweep, ended up edging the ball to keeper Cross, who took a good, quick catch.