Paul van Meekeren spearheads rout of Bangladesh

Netherlands 229 (Edwards 68, Barresi 41, Mustafizur 2-36, Mahedi 2-40) beat Bangladesh 142 (Mehidy 35, van Meekeren 4-23, de Leede 2-25) by 87 runs

The victory was arguably made sweeter by advantage of it coming in Kolkata, the place Bangladesh had assist as near house backing as they’re more likely to get this World Cup, with the quick flight in from Dhaka providing many followers easy accessibility.

But ultimately, it will be a journey ending in frustration – many had been seen leaving the stadium early – as a well-drilled Dutch outfit trumped their way more skilled counterparts in almost all aspects of the sport.

This was primarily a victory constructed on the now customary rearguard heroics of captain Edwards – his whole clan in attendance on the stadium to cheer him on – as he stitched collectively his second fifty of the event, an 89-ball 68.

What will significantly harm Bangladesh is that they might have seen the again of him earlier than he even received going – twice dropped on zero – however that in a microcosm was the distinction between the 2 sides. While each groups struggled with the bat, the Dutch persevered to get to a combating whole, and whereas each units of bowlers stored issues tight to create probabilities by stress, it was the Dutch who capitalised on them with ferocity; Bangladesh, however, had been left to rue their missed alternatives.

Such fortune although can be for nought with out correct backing and, like they’d achieved so impressively in opposition to South Africa, the bowlers and fielders as soon as extra ensured that their skipper’s efforts didn’t go in useless.

In the face of this Dutch exuberance, Bangladesh floundered of their chase, unable to match their opponents’ vitality. They misplaced wickets at common intervals, unable to string collectively partnerships of any cheap size – 38 was their highest – as a middling chase quick grew to become a frightening and, ultimately, unimaginable one.

That hardly appeared the case halfway by the Dutch innings, although, when having received the toss and elected to bat, they suffered yet one more top-order collapse. Only a late surge on the loss of life the place they scored 74 within the final ten overs, together with 36 within the remaining three, received them to their ultimately profitable whole.

But one other pair of wickets as soon as extra set Netherlands again as the 2 set batters, Barresi and Colin Ackermann, fell in fast succession to Mustafizur Rahman and Shakib, respectively. It was at that time the spinners started their sluggish strangle, as none of Shakib, Mehidy or Mahedi Hasan conceded greater than 4 an over throughout the center overs. Indeed, it was solely within the remaining over of the innings that Netherlands confirmed any form of aggression in opposition to spin, taking Mahedi for 17.

And so it was that Edwards was as soon as extra tasked to patch his facet up, first with de Leede after which Sybrand Engelbrecht. With de Leede, he scrounged 44 off 74, and with Engelbrecht, a barely faster 78 off 105.

Throughout these stands there was hardly a spotlight that might be extracted or stroke performed in anger, with the intent merely to knock it round and bat as deep as doable. An comprehensible endeavour contemplating Edwards had entered the fray along with his facet on a dangerous 63 for 3, which quickly grew to become 63 for 4.

But when he departed 30 overs later, he had dragged them to a barely extra respectable 185 for six, earlier than the late hitting took them to a combating whole.

At the time that appeared under par, particularly with many anticipating the floor to favour the batters. However, with the ball beginning to stick within the pitch and take some flip, it was Netherlands who tailored higher and confirmed the wherewithal to return by victorious ultimately.