Kolkata (Agencies): Paul van Meekeren took 4-23 and skipper Scott Edwards made a crucial 68 as the Netherlands beat Bangladesh by 87 runs for their second World Cup win. Edwards’ knock laid a solid platform for the Dutch to post a competitive 229 on a tricky Eden Gardens pitch.
Mehidy Miraz made 35 for Bangladesh but despite some lower-order resistance the Dutch clinically closed out an emphatic win as they were rolled for 142. It leaves the Netherlands eighth in the table, and England bottom. Bangladesh’s top order were skilfully winkled out by some intelligent bowling from Van Meekeren, as he backed up a good start with the ball from the Dutch with the wickets of Najmul Shanto (9), Shakib Al Hasan (5) and Mushfiqur Rahim (1).
From 70-6 Bangladesh twice threatened to recover only for the Dutch to turn the screw. A seventh-wicket stand of 38 from Mahmudullah (20) and Mahedi Hasan (17) was ended by a brilliant piece of fielding from Bas de Leede as he ran out the latter. The Durham all-rounder then had the dangerous Mahmudullah caught by Aryan Dutt to signal the beginning of the end for Bangladesh.
Fittingly, Van Meekeren took the final wicket of Taskin Ahmed – held by De Leede in the deep – to seal a win with 46 balls left unused. Earlier, Wesley Barresi had counter-attacked for the Netherlands after they had lost both openers early on having won the toss and batted first. Barresi, the oldest player in the tournament at 39 years and 178 days, looked the most fluent of any Dutch batter en route to a run-a-ball 41 in his first appearance at this World Cup. Edwards then dug in with a patient knock off 89 balls as he made his second half-century of the tournament after being twice dropped in the same over.
The Dutch lost momentum after he spooned Mustafizur Rahman, the pick of Bangladesh’s bowlers with 2-36, to point but Logan van Beek biffed 23 off 16 balls to finish the innings with a flourish. Ruthless Dutch punish sloppy Bangladesh This result widely fits the narrative of an upset given Bangladesh are a full ICC member and the Netherlands have Associate status.
Yet, the arc of progress of this Netherlands team, who have qualified ahead of two full members in West Indies and Ireland it should be remembered, means it really should be classified as a mild surprise rather than a big shock. The playing field may not be level in terms of facilities, financial resources and pool of players but out in the middle the Dutch are a versatile well-drilled international side.
A victory over tournament table-toppers South Africa was no fluke, and neither was this. In the three meetings in ODIs between the sides the Netherlands now have a 2-1 advantage over Bangladesh. Where the Dutch have excelled on this occasion is outplaying a side with significantly more experience of subcontinental conditions and pitches. Equally impressively, it came on the back of a record-breaking defeat to Australia which would have bruised their confidence. Bangladesh’s impudent batters looked ill-prepared for the patient lines and lengths of the Van Beek, Van Meekeren and De Leede with four top-order batters caught behind.
Bold field placings from Edwards were also integral – the dismissal of Shanto, held at second slip off Van Meekeren, epitomised his aggressive strategy at key moments. Their fielding was also excellent – in terms of catch conversion rates, nobody else in the tournament has held their chances at a better rate than the Dutch.
The Netherlands players, led by the blue-sky thinking of coach Ryan Cook, had bullishly talked of targeting the semi-finals of the World Cup before the tournament started. They have now banked more points than England and Bangladesh and have the same number as Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Afghanistan. It seemed an ambitious statement but after six games the Dutch will be satisfied a place in the last four at least remains a mathematical possibility.
