Windies survive Dutch scare as King rules

For a team that was well over hundred without a loss at one point in time in the contest only to bundle out for 214 in the end, the Netherlands went from encouraging and enterprising to ultimately being a disappointing lot. 

They played a fascinating and freewheeling brand of cricket, particularly up top, where the top three contributed 165 of the Netherlands' 214 runs in the contest. 

The bold and fearless approach taken by Vikramjit Singh, Max O'Dowd and Scott Edwards, the latter promoted up the order, allowed the hosts to play themselves into the game. But, the Dutch could've been game changers had the failure of the rest of the unit, all thanks to Windies' spinners fighting back not taken place. 

On a day where there was much to note, both captains registering insipid performances, what moments stood out and who authored them? 

Shariz Ahmad arrives with a bang

Just how often does one see a newcomer to a side striking with just his second delivery in international cricket? 

Prior to arriving in the series versus the West Indies, Shariz Ahmad was one of the Netherlands' key figures in the spin department for the ICC Under- 19 World Cup qualifier, Europe Region. 

A thinking leg-spinner responsible for some memorable spells, Ahmad starred in the 2021 tournament with his miserly returns with the ball, such as the spell against Jersey XI, where he produced a sensational 2 for 38 from his 10 overs. 

He was also the standout spinner in the contest the Netherlands won against Ireland, where his 3 for 19 rocked the top order. 

And while much was expected of the 19-year-old in the contest against the dominant Windies, the right-arm spinner did anything but disappoint. 

In removing none other than Kyle Mayers on just the second delivery of his first over in international ODI cricket, the big-hitting left-hander who was well set on an end was sent back by the newcomer. 

Thus, Ahmad further dented another blow to a Windies lineup already huffing and puffing in the run chase. 

Top order in Max'O Dowd and Vikramjit Singh take the fight to Windies 

Singh and O'Dowd have a combined ODI experience of no more than 18 games; yet, the measured approach in which the 19 and 28-year-old played the West Indies deserves widespread praise. 

In the just concluded ODI, the left-hand-right combination led the hosts' charge as the Netherlands reached a century-run stand for the first time ever against the Windies without losing a wicket. 

While Singh was the aggressor, unafraid to play the big shots, it was Max who was watchful and patient at the other end. 

It's a shame that Singh didn't reach a fifty but his second successive outing in the forties was about as brilliant as any we've seen of late. In a similar vein, O'Dowd's 51, a fourth fifty in a growing career, was an indication of the Dutch having found a compact and capable batter in their ranks, someone who can forge a dependable career. 

What was puzzling, particularly from a West Indies perspective, was just how difficult the medium fast bowling lot (comprising Mayers and Joseph) found in getting past Singh and Dowd's fluent run scoring. 

Brandon King justifies his surname 

The second ODI, well and truly, exposed chinks in the Windies' batting armoury as the top order, quite simply, failed to get going. 

But while you'd cut Shai Hope, centurion in the first game, some slack for missing out this time around, there should be questions posed at the likes of Nkrumah Bonner, who failed for a second successive inning. 

And with Pooran struggling yet again for runs, getting dismissed not long after hitting a six in the very same over, there's a lot that the Windies batting failed to do. For instance, Mayers, who looked set, failed to continue until the end. 

Though fortunately for the visitors, Brandon King was in the ranks, and the batter who usually scores up top managed to score much-needed runs, albeit from the lower order. 

In emerging with back to back fifties, the big-hitting right-hander compiled a career-best 91. That he remained unbeaten until the end, with 9 fours and 3 glorious sixes was ample evidence of the often understated batsman's capability with the bat. 

King anchored the run chase when the Windies repeatedly faltered with the bat and so desperately sought someone to lift them out of the hole they'd themselves dug in the first place. 

Calm and yet, aggressive, watchful and yet, prudent- King should derive a lot of confidence from this knock. 

Watchful against van Beek and Klein, medium pacers who were truly going strong, the elegant Jamaican who goes for the big strokes should ideally continue his touch. 

And his second ODI fifty should offer him the belief that he can produce the highly-sought runs even against stronger opponents such as India and Pakistan ahead.   

Carty settles nerves with unbeaten winning knock 

A youngster in the midst of a tight run chase and finding himself with the challenge of doing run-scoring at a precarious situation; perhaps nothing could've beaten the situation in which Keacy Carty brought up what is now his personal overs ODI score. 

His unbeaten 43 off 66, including 2 boundaries was testimony to the right hander's focus at an end whilst King, the aggressor, took the responsibility of doing the lion's share of scoring on his shoulders. 

One may never have seen the glowing century run stand between the two had Carty not played defensively, if also intelligently. 

Focused on strike rotation and staying put at a difficult time, the first cricketer from Sint Maarten enabled King to play his natural game, which ultimately played beautifully into the hands of the West Indies. 

Truth be told, a successful run chase that didn't seem as though it would transpire at one time saw Carty's valuable contribution that came at just the time where Pooran, who recorded another failure with the bat, would've wanted it. 

Akeal Hosein - the man with the tricks once again 

Game after game, Akeal Hosein's stocks are rising in international cricket much to the pleasure of his beloved West Indies team. 

Hosein now has 6 wickets against his name, the most in the series for a player from either side. 

But that the Trinidadian picked 4 on his own in the second contest, ultimately paved way for the Windies to chase down what was clearly a modest target. 

That's regardless of the fact that the heavily experienced name in the sport made a mess of the chase. 

But Hosein, quirky, intelligent and miserly as ever, struck the vital blows just as expected and was the key disruptor as he removed the well-set Max'O Dowd, Nidamanuru, the newcomer who made a fifty on debut in the previous game and other important wickets such as that of the dangerous Bas de Leede. 

Where might the Windies have been in the bowling department had Hosein not featured among the big wickets on a day where Mayers and Phillip didn't particularly do anything worth taking a note of?