England ended their losing streak with a massive 160-run win over the Netherlands at MCA, Pune to keep their chances of qualifying for Champions Trophy 2025 alive. Ben Stokes' 108-run knock followed by a clinical bowling display helped England rise from the bottom of the points table to seventh position with their second win of ODI World Cup 2023. On the other hand, the Netherlands slipped to the bottom of the table as they have an inferior run rate compared to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
Jos Buttler won the toss and opted to bat first at MCA Stadium, Pune. Dawid Malan got England off to a flyer with boundaries. Jonny Bairstow failed again and got dismissed by spinner Aryan Dutt. Joe Root was still new to the crease while Malan reached his half-century from 36 balls. Malan continued to take on the bowlers. Root went for a reverse scoop and got bowled by Logan van Beek. He scored 28 runs from 35 balls. In the next over, Malan got run out after a mix-up with Stokes. He scored 87 runs from 74 balls featuring 10 fours and a couple of sixes.
Harry Brook scored a couple of boundaries but went for a big shot against Bas de Leede and ended up getting caught. Buttler went for an unnecessary lofted shot and became Paul van Meekeren's victim. Moeen Ali could not do damage either and handed an easy catch to the long-off fielder off Dutt's bowling. England lost six wickets for 192 from 35.2 overs. Van Beek would have got the prized wicket of Stokes but Dutt dropped a half-chance. He was batting on 41 then. Woakes batted positively and gave Stokes a chance to settle. Stokes got to his half-century with a six from 58 balls.
He accelerated in the 45th over. The southpaw made Dutt pay for his mistakes with three sixes and a four in the 45th over. Stokes and Woakes went for big shots in the slog overs. In the 48th over, Stokes got to his maiden World Cup hundred from 78 balls. In the penultimate over, Woakes got to his half-century with a six and a four. He was dismissed for 51. His knock featured five fours and a six. David Willey hit a six and departed off the next ball. In the final over, Stokes hit a six and then departed off a slower ball. He scored 108 runs from 84 balls including six sixes and as many fours. His knock helped England post 339/9.
The Netherlands never looked like they were in the hunt. After a slow start, Woakes dismissed Max ODowd in the fifth over. Willey then got the wicket of Colin Ackermann for a two-ball duck. Wesley Baressi and Sybrand Engelbrecht tried to soak up the pressure. In the 18th over, Baressi got run out after a mix-up with Engelbrecht. He scored 37 runs from 62 balls. Willey came back into the attack and dismissed Engelbrecht for a 49-ball 33. Then Adil Rashid came into play. The quicker one beat De Leede and crashed into the stumps. The Netherlands lost half their side for 104 in the 26th over.
Teja Nidamanuru went for big shots straightaway and Willey dropped his catch off Gus Atkinson's bowling. Skipper Scott Edwards contributed with a few boundaries as well. Just when a partnership was building Ali got the wicket of Edwards. He scored 38 runs from 42 balls. Rashid then got the wicket of Van Beek who went for a sweep shot. Roelof van der Merwe went for a non-existent reverse sweep and lost his wicket to Ali. Rashid had his third scalp as Dutt got bowled. Ali wrapped up the proceedings by getting Van Meekeren stumped out. The Netherlands were bowled out for 179 in the 38th over and lost the match by 160 runs.
England will now face Pakistan in their last league game. It will be interesting to see if they spoil Pakistan’s comeback. The Netherlands will go up against hosts India in the last league game of the tournament.
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