World Cup: Skipper Edwards leads from the front as Netherlands script Bangladesh upset

KOLKATA: Bangladesh had only themselves to blame as they suffered their fifth defeat on the trot in the ongoing ICC ODI World Cup, going down to the Netherlands by 87 runs at the Eden Gardens here on Saturday.

In spite of finding half of their side back in the hut for just 107 inside 27 overs, the Dutch managed to put up 229 runs due to some sloppy fielding by Bangladesh. Although not a tall task, some shoddy batting saw Bangladesh cave in for 149 runs in 42.2 overs. With two points from six games, Bangladesh are all but out of the World Cup. Although the Dutch too might not progress from here, they can leave the World Cup stage with head held high.

Bangladesh found themselves in trouble early on, while chasing as they lost both their openers to be reduced to 19 for two in the sixth over. But after 22 dot balls, Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mehidy Hasan Miraz broke free when the former hit Logan van Beek for a boundary. Mehidy hit Aryan Dutta for a six and two fours in the next over (ninth).

Shanto's poor run continued as right-arm pacer Paul van Meekeren provided the breakthrough by getting him caught at first slip by Van Beek in his first over. Bangladesh then lost the plot by losing three wickets in consecutive overs.

Van Meekeren was at it again when he dismissed Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan, back after some personal training back home, caught behind in his third over. Pacer Bas de Leede tasted success in his first over when he sent back Mehidy Hasan, also caught behind, in the very next over while Van Meekeren clean bowled Mushfiqur Rahim through the gate in the next over.

Pressure mounted further on Bangladesh as they could manage just 38 runs in the 10 overs between 21 and 30 overs.

Earlier the Dutch batters failed to get off the block smoothly after deciding to bat first on winning the toss and lost both their openers to be reduced to four for two in the third over. However, Wesley Barresi and Colin Ackermann tried to steady the innings but they departed in consecutive overs.


It was thus left to their ever-dependable skipper Scott Edwards to come to rescue and like always, he didn't disappoint.

However, things could have been different had not Liton Das and Mushfiqur Rahim dropped Edwards off Mustafizur Rahman even before the Dutch skipper could open his account. Edwards took full advantage to stitch together a 78-run sixth wicket partnership with Sybrand Engelbrecht (35), before left-arm pacer Mustafizur finally ended the Dutch skipper's 89-ball innings.

A fit again Taskin Ahmed got rid of Bas de Leede in his second spell. However, Van Beek played a quickfire unbeaten 23 off 16 balls (2x4, 1x6) as the Netherlands collected 36 runs in the last three overs before being bowled out in the last ball of the innings.