Netherlands staged another turnaround as they shocked Bangladesh by 87 runs in a low-scoring battle at iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata on October 28, Saturday to effectively eliminate Shakib Al Hasan's brigade from the ongoing ODI World Cup.
Batting first Netherlands rode on skipper Scott Edwards' impressive half century to post a modest total of 229. But little did Bangladesh know, the Dutch will return to haunt them as Paul Van Meekeren ran through the Tigers' batting line-up and reduced them to a paltry 142 in 42.2 overs. Mehidy Hasan remained the top scorer for Bangladesh with 35 off 40. This was the second instance in the ongoing ODI World Cup, when Netherlands caused an upset as earlier they rocked the high-flying South Africa by 38 runs on October 17.
Notably, this was Bangladesh's fifth consecutive loss in six games. With this win Netherlands are placed eighth in the points table, right ahead of the ninth-placed Bangladesh.
Bangladesh, with a massive backing of around 15,000 ardent fans in the stadium, looked poised to break their losing streak, having faced four back-to-back defeats prior to this match. However, the Bangladesh batting lineup succumbed to the lethal Dutch bowling attack, struggling with the extra bounce and impeccable line-lengths. The leading destroyer from the Dutch camp, Meekeren, shone with figures of 4/23 in his 7.2 overs. A testament to the shaky Bangladesh innings was evident as four of their top-six batters couldn't even reach double figures.
Supporting Meekeren's endeavors were Bas de Leede with a 2/25 spell and Aryan Dutt, Logan van Beek, and Colin Ackermann, each chipping in with a wicket.
Bangladesh's quest for a revival met an early setback with Litton Das's premature reverse sweep, followed by Tanzid Hasan's struggles with the unpredictable bounce. These back-to-back dismissals significantly dampened Bangladesh's momentum.
Amidst the wicket-fall mayhem, Shanto and Mehidy Hasan Miraz showed glimpses of hope with a brisk 26-run partnership. However, the rejuvenated spirit was short-lived as Paul van Meekeren's wide yorker took Shanto's wicket, turning the tide once again. The usually reliable Shakib Al Hasan, fresh from training sessions in Dhaka, could only muster five runs, undone by the menacing bounce from Van Meekeren. At a crucial juncture, Miraz's departure signaled a bleak path for Bangladesh, who found themselves struggling at 69/5 in just 16.5 overs. From their there was no looking back for Netherlands, who kept on taking wickets in regular intervals to finally clinch the issue.
Earlier, Netherlands' captain Scott Edwards, displayed resilience and determination, stitching together a noteworthy innings to propel the team to a total of 229 runs. Despite facing an early onslaught from Bangladesh's reinvigorated bowling unit, Edwards' performance stood out, especially after the Netherlands found themselves in a tricky position, losing half their squad for a mere 107 runs in the initial 27 overs.
Edwards, after shaky start, managed to ride out the storm, getting three reprieves, two while he hadn’t even opened his account and the third at 12 runs. He capitalised on these opportunities to craft a pivotal 68-run innings off just 89 balls. Alongside him, Sybrand Engelbrecht added valuable runs (35), and together they constructed a significant 78-run partnership for the sixth wicket. However, Bangladesh's Mustafizur Rahman had the final say, cutting short Edwards' innings, which was full of chances.
Adding some flair towards the tail-end of the Netherlands' batting was Logan van Beek. His brisk 23-run knock off just 16 balls added much-needed momentum, helping his side garner 36 runs in the concluding three overs.
Bangladesh's bowling had its moments of brilliance, with Mustafizur Rahman (2/36) shining brightly. His crucial wickets, including the well-set Wesley Barresi (41) and the Dutch captain Edwards, were pivotal in ensuring the Netherlands didn't post an insurmountable target. Bangladesh's frontline pacers, Shoriful Islam (10-0-51-2) and a rejuvenated Taskin Ahmed (9-1-43-2), who returned from a shoulder injury, also made their presence felt, laying a solid foundation at the start of the innings.
The experienced Wesley Barresi, the only player from the 2011 World Cup still representing the Netherlands, played a dazzling knock. His confidence was evident as he effortlessly tackled the Bangladeshi pace duo of Taskin and Shoriful. However, Mustafizur Rahman's tactical variation caught Barresi off guard, bringing an end to a quick 59-run partnership.
Shakib's crafty bowling (10-1-37-1) further tightened the screws, taking down Colin Ackermann, leaving the Dutch innings teetering. Yet, it was Edwards' steely performance that gave the Netherlands something to defend against Bangladeshi.
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