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Taskin and Shoriful get the openers quick!
The Dutch players are still getting notes onto the ground for strategy! This is old school, and I love that this team strategizes their every move. These are paper notes sent out every now and then, completely unrelated but I was definitely thinking about that whole sandpaper incident, just be safe Dutch friends.
I saw Captain Scott Edwards talking to a bunch of fans through those abominable grills, I think they just look terrible but I also don’t trust Indian fans, they’re crazy!
But great to see another captain joining the ranks of Kanos.
We saw Shanto’s exit with a fantastic slip catch, and that marked the beginning of Van Meek’s impressive performance. Van Beek’s brilliant catch added to the excitement.
Mushfiqur Rahim’s dismissal was quite the sight, and you could almost say it was another feather in Van Meek’s cap.
De Leede’s runout showed how hard they worked on their fielding and the intent to not give away anything at any point of the game. It showed pinpoint accuracy. By then, it was evident the game was all but over for the Bangladeshi side.
And then, there was Aryan Dutt’s catch, again absolutely ideal fielding from the team.
It’s a bit disheartening to see a team like Bangladesh, with a solid lineup on paper, struggle with coordination and enthusiasm in the tournament. Frankly, watching their matches hasn’t been the most exciting experience. In contrast, we’ve witnessed incredible spirit from the Afghan and Dutch teams, but the same can’t be said for the Bangladeshi side.
The lackluster performance was evident, with many fans even leaving the stadium early. The Dutch side, well-drilled and full of energy, outperformed their more experienced counterparts in almost every aspect of the game.
In the face of the Dutch team’s DRIVE, Bangladesh faltered in their chase. Their inability to match the energy of their opponents resulted in wickets falling at regular intervals. They couldn’t form substantial partnerships, with 38 being their highest. What seemed like a manageable chase quickly turned into a formidable and ultimately insurmountable task.
What’s particularly painful for Bangladesh is that they had two golden chances to dismiss their opponent before he even got started, with two dropped catches when he was on zero. In a nutshell, this encapsulated the disparity between the two teams.
Both sides faced batting difficulties, but the Dutch team displayed remarkable determination to achieve a competitive total. The bowlers from both sides created opportunities by applying pressure, but it was the Dutch side that seized these chances with great intensity. On the flip side, Bangladesh was left regretting their missed opportunities.
Engelbret, in particular, had a lifeline when he was dropped early in his innings.
Midway through the Dutch innings, it didn’t appear as if they were heading for a competitive total. Despite winning the toss and opting to bat, they faced yet another top-order collapse. It was only in the final phase of their innings that they managed to gather some momentum, scoring 74 runs in the last ten overs, with a significant 36 coming in the final three.
Wesley Barresi briefly countered the Bangladeshi attack with a run-a-ball 41, but he was the only Netherlands batter to exhibit any form of dominance. In fact, it took them until the penultimate over of the innings to hit their first six.
However, a couple of quick wickets, courtesy of Mustafizur Rahman and Shakib, set the Netherlands back as Barresi and Colin Ackermann were dismissed. From there, the spinners took control, with Shakib, Mehidy, and Mahedi Hasan maintaining tight spells in the middle overs. The Netherlands only showed aggression against spin in the final over of the innings, taking Mahedi for 17 runs.
Captain Scott Edwards was once again tasked with stabilizing his team, first with de Leede and then Sybrand Engelbrecht. While their partnerships lacked flashy highlights or aggressive strokes, their focus was to consolidate and bat as deep as possible. This approach was understandable, considering Edwards joined the fray with his team struggling at 63 for 3, which soon became 63 for 4.
By the time Edwards departed, 30 overs later, he had steered his team to a slightly more respectable 185 for 6, before some late hitting boosted their total. They managed to score 74 runs in the last 10 overs, pushing their final score to 229.
The dependable Aryan Dutt, though he managed to secure just a single wicket, displayed his craftiness by initiating the Dutch defense. He struck early in the innings by dismissing Litton Das and impressively bowled two consecutive maiden overs during the first powerplay. His ability to continuously challenge the batters with his guile and variations left them with little respite.
Aryan Dutt’s first wicket was a classic example of his expertise. It was reminiscent of how he removed QDK during the South Africa match, followed immediately by Van Beek dismissing Tamim.
Paul van Meekeren delivered impressive figures of 4 for 23. He managed to dismiss key figures in the Bangladeshi lineup, including Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim.
Scott Edwards once again played a Captain’s knock (with a gutsy 68 runs) and approached the game strategically in the second innings. His aggressive approach against the opposition’s bowling attack added flair to the match.
The Dutch team has now added another famous victory to their growing collection, a significant step forward in the development of cricket in the Netherlands.
Captain Edwards played a pivotal role in this victory, scoring his second fifty of the tournament with a patient 89-ball 68. However, such individual brilliance would have been in vain without the remarkable support from the bowlers and fielders, who, just as they did against South Africa, ensured Edwards’ efforts didn’t go to waste.
At the outset, the target seemed below par, especially considering the expectations of a batsman-friendly pitch. However, as the ball began to grip the pitch and display some turn, it was the Netherlands that adapted better and ultimately emerged victorious.
Edwards’ two dropped catches, courtesy of Litton and Mushfiqur, proved costly for Bangladesh as he went on to amass 68 runs.
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