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World Cup 2023 | Scott Edwards, Meekeren Help Netherlands Stun Bangladesh

image-loa88qj1Netherlands players celebrate a BAN wicket at the 2023 World Cup (AP)

Brief Scores: Netherlands: 229 all out (49.2 overs) [Scott Edwards: 68 (89), Wesley Barresi: 41 (41); Mustafizur Rahman 2/36 (10), Mahedi Hasan 2/40 (7)] defeated Bangladesh: 142 all out (42.2 overs) [Mehidy Hasan Miraz: 35 (40), Mustafizur Rahman: 20 (35); Paul van Meekeren 4/23 (7.2), Bas de Leede 2/25 (7)] by 87 runs.

Just weeks after overwhelming a rampaging South African unit, cellar-dwellers Netherlands stunned yet another Test-playing nation, this time Bangladesh, as the 2023 World Cup made its way to the iconic Eden Gardens.

Captain Edwards leads NED from the frontlines

Bangladesh’s new-ball attack, featuring Shoriful Islam and Taskin Ahmed, quickly made Netherlands regret their decision of batting first as the two speedsters removed both Dutch openers within their respective opening spells. Jolted at 4-2 in just 2.2 overs, number three Wesley Barresi and middle-order star Colin Ackermann cautiously guided their side past the 50-run mark before both lost their wickets in a space of six balls at the hands of Mustafizur Rahman and Shakib Al Hasan.

Staring towards yet another collective batting failure, captain Scott Edwards led team’s scoring charge from the front with crucial partnerships with Bas de Leede and Sybrand Engelbrecht. Edwards himself top-scored in the innings with a calculated 68 while handy runs from Engelbrecht, tripled with a 16-ball 23* from unbeaten Logan van Beek stretched Netherlands total from 63-4 to 107-5 to eventually 229 at the end of their 50 overs.

Following their sublime opening gambits, Islam and Ahmed both claimed another scalp in the innings to finish with two wickets apiece. Rahman finished his quota with 2-36 while Mahedi Hasan also struck twice in his seven-over spell.

Paul van Meekeren scythes through BAN middle-order

In a must-win game, Bangladesh’s run-chase never took off, as openers Litton Das and Tanzid Hasan both made their way back to the pavilion in succession at 19. New-ball bowlers Aryan Dutt and Logan van Beek dismissed the two openers and both finished with combined figures of 2-56 off their 19 collective overs.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz at number three formed some resistance, but his mere 35 turned out to be the biggest benefactor of the run-chase as he received little-to-no support from the other end.

Netherlands ace speedster Paul van Meekeren scythed through the Bangladeshi middle-order with a quick three-wicket burst, and the 30-year-old also landed the knockout punch to finish with career-best 4-23 from 7.2 overs.

Bangladesh eventually folded up for just 142 to hand Netherlands an 87-run win in Eden Gardens, as Shakib al Hasan and co. crashed out of the semi-finals race with their fifth defeat in succession.