The Netherlands staged an impressive comeback by clinching an 87-run victory over Bangladesh at Kolkata’s iconic Eden Gardens on Saturday, October 28.
In a stunning reversal of fortunes, the Netherlands team, reeling from a 309-run loss to Australia a few nights ago – the biggest defeat in World Cup history, has delivered a remarkable comeback at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata. They secured a much-needed 87-run victory over Bangladesh on Saturday, October 28.
The Netherlands batted first, posting a respectable 229 runs for the loss of 10 wickets in 50 overs. Scott Edwards led the charge with a sturdy 68 off 89 deliveries, while Wesley Barresi added 41 from 41 balls. Bangladesh’s Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed claimed 2 wickets each, conceding 36 and 43 runs, respectively.
In response, Bangladesh struggled to cope with the target, ending their innings at 142 for the loss of all wickets in 42.2 overs. With a high score of only 35 by Miraz and four of the top six batsmen registering single-digit scores, it was yet another batting collapse. Their struggles didn’t end with the bat; they also couldn’t curtail the Dutch innings, allowing a substantial partnership between Edwards and Sybrand Engelbrecht.
Paul van Meekeren emerged as the hero of the day, sealing the victory with his fourth wicket and finishing with figures of 4 for 23, and was awarded the Player of the Match.
“To bounce back from Australia was a huge effort. We were confident at the halfway mark. We thought we had a chance with 230-240, and be relentless with line and length,” Meekeren said when speaking at the post-match presentation.
The Dutch bowlers adopted an astute strategy, relying on wickets to keep Bangladesh at bay. Fast bowlers utilized the extra bounce characteristic of the Eden Gardens, while spinners extracted more turns than usual.
For Bangladesh, now the chances of making it to the semis have become exceedingly complex.
Last Updated on October 28, 2023
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