WC: Netherlands stuns Bangladesh by 87 runs thanks to excellent bowling and Scott Edwards' fifty
The Netherlands achieved an impressive 87-run victory over Bangladesh in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup at the Eden Gardens, thanks to an outstanding bowling performance led by medium pacer Paul van Meekeren, who claimed four wickets. In the first innings, Scott Edwards’ half-century helped the Dutch to a competitive score of 229, while their bowling attack took advantage of a helpful surface to leave Bangladesh’s reply in tatters, with the Tigers slipping to 142 all out. With this win, the Netherlands moved to eighth position with four points, ahead of Bangladesh and England, who have two points each. The Netherlands, who had already stunned South Africa earlier in the event, have shown that they are a strong team to be reckoned with.
The Netherlands captain Edwards stood up with a captain's knock, hitting a fine half-century to help his team towards a total that kept them in the game. And Paul van Meekeren led the way with the ball for the Dutch, taking 4-23 as part of a bowling unit that cranked up the pressure on an underperforming Bangladesh side. The Tigers suffered early setbacks in their search for 230 to win, with Litton Das the first to depart, caught behind off Aryan Dutt for cautious three from 12 balls. And fellow opener Tanzid Hazan (15) joined him back in the dugout just an over later, with Edwards again taking the catch behind the stumps, this time off Van Beek.
Bangladesh bedded down to recover from the early wickets but suffered another blow when Paul van Meekeren struck to remove Najmul Hossain Shanto for 9, leaving the Tigers 45/3 and in need of a significant rebuild. The Netherlands' momentum continued apace as Shakib Al Hasan (5) and Mehidy Hasan Miraz (35) were both prised out to leave Bangladesh 69/5 and needing something special to avoid defeat. The winning post moved a step closer when Mahedi Hasan was run out at the non-striker’s end in a moment that encapsulated both the brilliance of the Dutch and the off-color nature of Bangladesh on the night.
The final wickets were taken quickly after a brave ninth-wicket partnership. Ackermann bowled Mustafizur Rahman and Van Meekeren returned to dismiss Taskin just two balls later. The Netherlands had a tough start to their innings and lost both their openers early. Vikramjit Singh (3) was caught at mid-off off Taskin Ahmed, while Max O'Dowd (0) gave a slip catch to Shoriful Islam off a delivery outside off. Veteran Wesley Barresi and Colin Ackermann then steadied the innings. Barresi played with aggression, hitting seven fours in the first Powerplay. However, he was caught out for 41 by a clever slower ball from Mustafizur Rahman.
Ackermann played a crucial innings but was dismissed after attempting a sweep off Shakib Al Hasan. He scored 15 runs from 33 balls, leaving two new batters at the crease. Bas de Leede also departed soon after, having feathered an edge through to the keeper off Taskin for 17. The Tigers were dominating the game and it needed another lower-order rescue job from the Dutch to reach a competitive score. Edwards played a significant role in putting together a terrific contribution at the other end, scoring an excellent 68 from 89 balls before being dismissed. Sybrand Engelbrecht (35) and Logan van Beek (23*) also made valuable contributions, but the Dutch couldn't finish strongly. Shakib Al Hasan finished with 1-37 from his ten overs, while four other bowlers took two wickets each - Taskin Ahmed (2-43), Shoriful Islam (2-51), Mustafizur Rahman (2-36), and Mahedi Hasan (2-40).
