Image Credit- AFP
The bowlers spearheaded the victory push as the
Netherlands stayed steady in their defence of a middling 229 to record an
impressive 87-run victory over Bangladesh, despite Scott Edwards pulling his
team out of the gutter once again. Bangladesh is all but out of the running for
a semi-final spot as a result of the result, while the Dutch have added another
historic victory to their resume. This one will not only have an impact on the
current tournament but will also serve as a rung on an already impressive ladder
of growth for cricket in the Netherlands.
Bangladesh got as near to home support as they are
going to get this World Cup in Kolkata, where many fans could easily travel
after their short journey from Dhaka, which may have contributed to the
victory’s sweetness.
But in the end, the trip would be fruitless as a
well-rehearsed Dutch team outperformed their far more experienced opponents in
almost every aspect of the game; several were observed departing the stadium
early.
This was mostly a triumph based on the now-familiar
rearguard actions of captain Edwards, who put together his second fifty of the
tournament with an 89-ball 68 with his whole family present at the stadium to
support him.
Bangladesh will be especially wounded by the fact that
they had the opportunity to see him go before he ever started—he dropped two
goals on zero—but that, in a nutshell, was what separated the two teams. While
both sides had trouble at the bat, the Dutch managed to reach a competitive
total, and although both bowling combinations applied pressure to create
opportunities, it was the Dutch who took full advantage of them, leaving
Bangladesh to lament their wasted chances.
But, such good fortune would be for nothing without
sufficient support, and the bowlers and fielders again made sure that their
captain’s efforts were not in vain, just as they had done so magnificently
against South Africa.
Paul van Meekeren was outstanding, amassing figures of
4 for 23, which included wickets from Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim; Bas
de Leede, coming off his World Cup record-breaking thrashing at the hands of
Australia, removed the two Bangladeshi batsmen who posed a threat to the Dutch
total, Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Mahmudullah, for 35 and 20, respectively; and
lastly, the ever-dependable Aryan Dutt, who, although taking only one wicket,
was as cunning as ever, illuminating Litton Das, producing two straight maidens
during the opening powerplay, and generally leaving the batsmen with little
opportunity to rest.
Bangladesh was unable to match their opponents’
intensity and faltered in their pursuit against this excitement on the part of
the Dutch. Their inability to form partnerships of any meaningful length (38
being their highest), coupled with their frequent wicket losses, turned an
acceptable chase into one that was finally overwhelming and unachievable.