KOLKATTA: Paul van Meekeren returned splendid figures of 4/23 and propelled the Netherlands to stun Bangladesh in the 28th match of the ICC World Cup 2023 on Saturday.
Chasing a modest 230-run target, the Bangladesh batting lineup failed completely and could only score 142 in response before being bundled out in the 43rd over.
Bangladesh got off to a shaky start to the pursuit as they lost both their openers Tanzid Hasan and Litton Das upfront in the sixth over with just 19 runs on the board.
The back-to-back blows pushed Bangladesh into defensive mode as Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mehidy Hasan Miraz batted for more than five overs and only added 26 runs before Paul van Meekeren removed the former on nine.
Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan failed to pull his side out of trouble and walked back after managing to score a mere five.
Their mainstay Mehidy Hasan Miraz followed Shakib back to the dugout in the next over and Bangladesh’s chances shrank.
He waged a lone battle for Bangladesh with a 40-ball 35 that featured five boundaries and a six.
Coming out to bat at number seven, Mahmudullah took the reigns of Bangladesh’s run chase and stayed at the crease for almost 16 overs but failed to turn his side’s fortune.
He scored 20 in 41 balls with the help of two boundaries before departing in the 33rd over.
Bangladesh’s number 10 Mustafizur Rahman also offered brief resistance with his 20-run cameo but it was not enough as the Netherlands ran away with a massive 87-run victory, their second in the ICC World Cup 2023.
Opting to bat first, the Netherlands could only manage to raise a modest 229 on the board.
The Dutch had a shaky start to their innings as both their openers Vikramjit Singh (3) and Max O’Dowd (0) perished cheaply with just four runs on the board in the third over.
Watch ICC World Cup 2023 Live on ARY ZAP
Wesley Barresi and Colin Ackermann then anchored the innings with a gutsy 59-run partnership before both fell in successive overs to leave the Netherlands reeling at 64/4.
Dutch captain Scott Edwards then took charge of his side’s batting expedition and put together a brief partnership with Bas de Leede, who could score a 32-ball 17.
Sybrand Engelbrecht and Edwards then knitted an important 78-run partnership for the sixth wicket but Bangladesh once again hit back by removing both set batters in quick succession.
Engelbrecht remained a notable run-getter for the Dutch, scoring a cautious 61-ball 35, laced with three boundaries while Edwards top-scored with 68 off 89 deliveries, which featured six boundaries.
Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel
Following their departure, Bangladesh bowlers ran through the Netherlands’ batting tail and soon wrapped up the innings by picking up the last wicket on the final delivery of the 50th over.
For Bangladesh, Mahedi Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Islam bagged two wickets each while Shakib Al Hasan made one scalp.