HARARE: Logan van Beek’s career-best bowling figures of 4-24 followed by a sensational 90-run knock by Max O’Dowd powered Netherlands into the Cricket World Cup (CWC) Qualifier Super Sixes.
After sending Nepal to bat first, the Dutch bowlers trounced on their batting lineup and booked them for a skimpy 167 as van Beek led the attack with a four-for.
The Asian side, after getting off to a poor start, lost wickets at regular intervals and were eventually bundled out for 167 in the 45th over.
Skipper Rohit Paudel offered brief retaliation with a cautious 33 off 55 deliveries but could not manage to get the behold of his side’s struggling batting.
Opening batter Kushal Bhurtel and lower-order batter Sandeep Lamichhane were the other notable run-getters for the side as they scored 27 each.
The rest of the Nepal batters made insignificant contributions with the bat as they seemed clueless against a disciplined Dutch bowling attack.
Logan van Beek led the ruthless bowling charge of the Netherlands with four wickets, followed by two each by Bas de Leede and Vikramjit Singh.
Set to chase 167, the Netherlands comfortably completed the pursuit for the loss of just three wickets and 137 balls to spare.
Opening batter Max O’Dowd spearheaded Netherlands’ run chase with a brisk 90-run knock and top-scored before perishing on the first delivery of the 27th over when his side needed just 10 more runs.
He faced 75 deliveries and smashed eight boundaries and four sixes during his brilliant knock.
His opening partner Vikramjit Singh (30) and Bas de Leede (41*) also made significant contributions and paved the way for a comfortable victory for the Netherlands.
The seven-wicket victory over Nepal powered the Netherlands to storm into the Super Sixes stage of the CWC Qualifier while their opponents ran out of contention.