Bas de Leede's all-round show leads Netherlands to 7-wicket win over Namibia after Pakistan heartbreak

All-rounder Bas de Leede starred in Netherlands’ comprehensive seven-wicket win over Namibia at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi on February 10. Netherlands opened their win account in the T20 World Cup 2026 after a narrow loss to Pakistan in Colombo on the opening day of the tournament.

Netherlands tie down Namibia batters

Earlier, Netherlands captain Scott Edwards won the toss and opted to bowl first. Namibia got off to a slow start and lost Louren Steenkamp in the third over. Jan Frylinck and Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton tried to accelerate and use the fielding restrictions. Namibia were 40/1 after powerplay overs. In the 10th over, Logan van Beek broke the partnership with Frylinck's wicket. He scored 30 runs from 26 balls.

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Loftie Eaton and Gerhard Erasmus pushed the scoring rate with boundaries. De Leede was introduced into the attack and he delivered with Erasmus' wicket. He scored 18 runs from nine balls. Loftie Eaton missed his fifty as he was dismissed for a 38-ball 42 by Van Beek. JJ Smit hit two sixes before becoming De Leede's second victim of the day. Wickets kept falling in the slog overs but Namibia managed to post 156/8 on the board.

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De Leede leads the run chase

In the run chase, Max O'Dowd departed for a single-digit score to Bernard Scholtz. De Leede walked in to bat at no.3. Michael Levitt contributed with a 15-ball 28 cameo before Ruben Trumpelmann dismissed him. Netherlands were 50/2 after powerplay overs. The scoring rate slowed down for a few overs. Colin Ackermann's catch was dropped in the 10th over by Steekamp.

De Leede continued to find the boundaries and keep the required run rate in check. In the 14th over, Ackermann lost his wicket to Loftie-Eaton for a 28-ball 32. De Leede reached his fifty from 38 balls. In the 18th over, Edwards and De Leede hit a six each. De Leede finished the run chase with a boundary as Netherlands chased down the target with two overs to spare.

While Edwards contributed with a nine-ball 18, De Leede remained not out for a 48-ball 72 featuring five fours and four sixes. The all-rounder was named ‘Player of the match’.

The win helped Netherlands go past Pakistan and take second spot on the Group A points table.