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- Netherlands vs Namibia highlights, T20 World Cup 2026: Bas de Leede shines as Netherlands beat Namibia by 7 wickets
Netherlands vs Namibia highlights, T20 World Cup 2026: Bas de Leede shines as Netherlands beat Namibia by 7 wickets
Schedule | Points Table
Put in to bat, Namibia posted a competitive 156 for eight from their 20 overs, built around a measured innings from Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton and valuable cameos through the middle. Namibia began cautiously and lost Louren Steenkamp early, but Loftie-Eaton steadied the innings with a patient 42 off 38 balls, mixing placement with timely boundaries. Jan Frylinck supported him with a brisk 30 from 26 deliveries as Namibia reached 60 for two at the halfway stage.
Skipper Gerhard Erasmus briefly lifted the tempo, smashing 18 off just nine balls, while JJ Smit added impetus late with a 22-run cameo off 15 balls. However, Namibia struggled to fully capitalise at the death, losing wickets at regular intervals. Logan van Beek and Bas de Leede were the standout bowlers for the Netherlands, picking up two wickets each and keeping a tight leash during key phases, as Namibia finished slightly below par on a surface that eased under lights.
In reply, the Netherlands made light work of the chase, reaching 159 for three in just 18 overs. Opener Michael Levitt set the tone with an aggressive 28 off 15 balls, including three sixes, before falling in the powerplay. After Max O’Dowd’s early dismissal, Bas de Leede took control of the innings with a composed yet authoritative knock.
De Leede anchored the chase with an unbeaten 72 off 48 balls, striking five fours and four sixes, while rotating the strike efficiently. Colin Ackermann complemented him well with a steady 32 from 28 balls as the pair added a decisive 70-run stand. Namibia’s bowlers struggled to apply sustained pressure, with only Bernard Scholtz and Ruben Trumpelmann managing breakthroughs.
Captain Scott Edwards ensured there were no late hiccups, finishing things off with a rapid 18 not out from nine balls as the Netherlands crossed the line comfortably.
The win further enhanced the Netherlands’ remarkable record in Men’s T20 World Cups. With this victory, they moved to 11 wins overall, the most by any Associate team in the tournament’s history, and boast the best win-loss ratio (0.647) among the 15 Associate sides to have featured so far.
Once again, the Dutch demonstrated why they are no longer just plucky underdogs, but a well-drilled unit capable of consistently delivering on the big stage.
Fred Klaassen to Ruben Trumpelmann, Back of a length and around off, Ruben Trumpelmann stabs it out to short cover.
Fred Klaassen to Ruben Trumpelmann, WIDE! And again, Hard length but outside the guideline, on off. Ruben Trumpelmann lets it go. Another wide called.
Fred Klaassen to Ruben Trumpelmann, WIDE! Short of a lengh but way outside off, Ruben Trumpelmann leaves it alone. Wided.
The Netherlands have taken a review for LBW. A bit in desperation. UltraEdge shows no bat. Ball Tracking shows it is the umpire's call as far as the ball hitting the wickets is concerned. The on-field decision stays.
- Ruben Trumpelmann 1 (2)
- Zane Green 5 (7)
Bas de Leede to Ruben Trumpelmann, A shout for LBW, but turned down! This is another slower one, on a length and on middle, angles in. Ruben Trumpelmann has a swipe across the line but misses and gets hit on the pads. The ball rolls towards point, where the fielder picks up and has a shy at the bowler's end but misses. The batters get a leg bye. However, Scott Edwards takes the review here. UltraEdge and Ball Tracking goes in favour of the batter.
Bas de Leede to Zane Green, Back of a length and around off, takes pace off, Zane Green pulls it to deep mid-wicket for one more.
Bas de Leede to Ruben Trumpelmann, Fuller and around off, Ruben Trumpelmann drills it to sweeper cover for one.
Out goes JJ Smit, in comes Ruben Trumpelmann.
Bas de Leede to JJ Smit, OUT! TIMBER! Bas de Leede lands this on a good length and on off, skids through a bit. JJ Smit backs away and tries to just guide it away to deep third, but gets into an awkward position. He misses the ball completely as it just clips the bail off. Yet another set batter falls and it's a good period of play for the Netherlands.
Bas de Leede to Zane Green, A slower delivery, full and on middle and leg, Zane Green backs away and drills it to long on for a run.
Momentum shifting over for Namibia. 16 runs off the previous over and Namibia are on track for a score around 170. Also, Bas de Leede is back into the attack.
Bas de Leede to JJ Smit, Fuller delivery, on middle, JJ Smit clips it through mid-wicket for a single.
- JJ Smit 21 (13)
- Zane Green 3 (5)
Roelof van der Merwe to JJ Smit, Quicker, full and outside off, JJ Smit drills it to sweeper cover for one. 16 runs off the over!
Roelof van der Merwe to JJ Smit, SIX! Even better and bigger! Roelof van der Merwe gives this one some more air, full and on middle. JJ Smit this time clears his front leg away and smokes it over the deep mid-wicket fence for half a dozen more.
Roelof van der Merwe to JJ Smit, SIX! Just over! Tossed up, full and around middle. JJ Smit crouches low, gets right underneath the ball and dispatches it over the bowler's head. There is a shout for 'Catch It', but the ball goes between long on and long off, over the fence for a biggie.
Roelof van der Merwe to Zane Green, Flighted, full and on middle, Zane Green goes down and sweeps it to deep square leg for another run.
Roelof van der Merwe to JJ Smit, Floated, short and around off, JJ Smit stabs it out to extra cover for a run.
Roelof van der Merwe to Zane Green, Fires in a yorker, on middle, Zane Green tucks it towards mid-wicket for a single.
- Zane Green 1 (3)
- JJ Smit 7 (9)
Logan van Beek to Zane Green, On a length and holds a bit into the surface, around off. Green pushes on the up, straight and off the inner half, wide of the stretched left-hand of Logan van Beek and it rolls to long on for a single.
Logan van Beek to Zane Green, Extra bounce off the surface as Logan van Beek bowls the hard-length delivery, just outside off. Green plays wth an angled bat to point.
Logan van Beek to Zane Green, Logan van Beek gets the stumps into play, on a good length. Green hops and taps it on the deck.
Logan van Beek to Zane Green, WIDE! A bumper way too short, Zane Green lets it go over his head.
Drinks break brings another wicket for Netherlands. Zane Green walks out to bat now.
Logan van Beek to Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, OUT! GONE! It's the set batter who has to depart. Logan van Beek bowls the off-cutter, into the surface around off and it does't climb as much as Jan expected it to. Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton heaves across without much timing and finds Roelof van der Merwe at long on, who runs in and takes a simple catch. Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton goes for 42 (38) and it's a massive success for the Dutch at this stage of the match.
Logan van Beek to JJ Smit, Leg bye! Drifting into the batter, slightly short, JJ Smit fails to flick and it rolls off the pads to fine leg for a leg bye.
Logan van Beek to Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, A quick single to get the acceleration period underway. Logan serves it in the channel, around off, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton drops it in front of point for a single.
DRINKS! Namibia have a decent platform to launch, with wickets in hand, but they will need Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton to stay till the end as he is batting on 41 off 36. This is not a wicket where new batters can come in and play their shots freely. Gerhard Erasmus tried to inject some momentum, and they will need a couple of players to play with that intent. Netherlands will be hoping that they learned their lesson from the Pakistan game and try to execute the plans in the death overs better.
- JJ Smit 7 (8)
- Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton 41 (36)
Roelof van der Merwe to JJ Smit, An armball, flat and close to the off pole. JJ Smit bends low and cuts it to point. 6 runs off the over.
Roelof van der Merwe to Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Floats it up, around leg and slower in the air. Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton skips down and works it to long on for one.
Roelof van der Merwe to JJ Smit, Tosses it up, full and on middle, JJ Smit drills it down to long on for a single.
Roelof van der Merwe to JJ Smit, A half-tracker on the quicker side and on off, JJ Smit punches it square to point.
Roelof van der Merwe to JJ Smit, Corrects the line and fires it onto the stumps. JJ Smit keeps it out on the off side.
We will see Roelof van der Merwe with the ball for the first time in this game.
Roelof van der Merwe to JJ Smit, FOUR! Greets Roelof van der Merwe with a boundary! Starts with a flighted delivery, wide outside off. JJ Smit bends across and flashes it past point, in the gap and it rolls to the fence. 100 up for Namibia.
- JJ Smit 2 (3)
- Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton 40 (35)
Bas de Leede to JJ Smit, Length delivery, pace-off, outside off, punched to mid off and JJ Smit keeps the strike.
Bas de Leede to JJ Smit, Straighter delivery, hard-length and on off, JJ taps it back to Bas de Leede.
Bas de Leede to JJ Smit, WIDE! Fuller delivery, going down the leg side, JJ Smit lets it be.
Bas de Leede to Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Pushes it full and around the fifth stump line. Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton heaves it off the inner half of the bat to long on for one.
Bas de Leede to JJ Smit, Short of a good length and on leg, JJ Smit turns it to deep square leg for a single. Smit is underway.
The bowling change has worked for the Netherlands. JJ Smit is the next man in.
Bas de Leede to Gerhard Erasmus, OUT! TAKEN! A much-needed wicket for the Netherlands as Namibia's skipper was playing with intent in his short stay. Bas de Leede bowls into the surface and around off, Gerhard Erasmus picks the short ball but it is too close to his body for the pull shot, no space to swing his arms cleanly and he picks the man at the catching mid-wicket position. Aryan Dutt gets on his toes to take it over his head. Erasmus departs for a quick-fire 18 off 9, and Namibia are 95/3 now.
Bas de Leede to Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Good idea but not the execution! On a good length and on top of off. Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton shuffles across to play it behind square leg but fails to pick the slower delivery, hits it to mid-wicket for a single.
Bas de Leede has been introduced into the attack now. He will be desperate to make amends for his dropped catch.
- Gerhard Erasmus 18 (8)
- Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton 38 (33)
Timm van der Gugten to Gerhard Erasmus, FOUR MORE! That's 29 runs off the last two overs. Again, well played! Timm van der Gugten corrects and bowls around off but a bit too short. Gerhard Erasmus hoicks it across and gets it over mid-wicket for four runs. He does not get it from the middle, and Roelof van der Merwe from mid on chases it, but the ball still trickles away to the fence.
Timm van der Gugten to Gerhard Erasmus, FOUR! Namibia motoring now! Too short and too wide, Gerhard Erasmus accepts the room, slashes his blade and hits it wide of deep backward point for a boundary.
Timm van der Gugten to Gerhard Erasmus, SIX! Gerhard knows he timed that to perfection. He enjoyed that shot! Short of a good length and around off, Gerhard Erasmus takes a couple of steps down and shot-arm jabs it over cow corner and it goes the distance.
Timm van der Gugten to Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Serves it full and around off, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton steps across to heave but mistimes it to long on for one.
Timm van der Gugten to Gerhard Erasmus, Hard-length delivery, outside off, this is punched to sweeper cover for a single.
Timm van der Gugten comes back into the attack. He conceded 5 runs in his first over.
Timm van der Gugten to Gerhard Erasmus, An in-angler, fuller delivery, around off, Gerhard Erasmus chops it to point.
Asked to bat first, Namibia posted a competitive 156 for eight, built around a measured knock from Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, who top-scored with 42 off 38 balls. Jan Frylinck gave the innings early impetus with 30 from 26 deliveries, while skipper Gerhard Erasmus provided a late spark, blazing away to 18 off just nine balls. JJ Smit’s brisk 22 off 15 balls helped Namibia maintain momentum through the middle overs, but regular wickets prevented them from fully capitalising.
The Netherlands bowlers kept things tight, with Logan van Beek and Bas de Leede leading the charge. Van Beek’s controlled spell of 2 for 13 and de Leede’s 2 for 20 ensured Namibia were never able to break free, while Aryan Dutt also impressed with his economy, conceding just 13 runs in three overs.
In reply, the Dutch chase was anchored by a superb all-round performance from de Leede, who followed up his bowling effort with an unbeaten 72 off 48 balls. Opener Michael Levitt set the tone with a quickfire 28 from 15 deliveries, striking three sixes to power the Netherlands to 50 in the powerplay. Although Levitt and Max O’Dowd departed early, de Leede and Colin Ackermann stitched together a decisive partnership.
Ackermann played the supporting role to perfection, scoring 32 off 28 balls as the pair added 70 runs for the third wicket, steadily taking the game away from Namibia. After Ackermann fell late in the chase, skipper Scott Edwards finished things off in style, smashing 18 not out from nine balls to seal victory in the 18th over.
The win further burnished the Netherlands’ impressive record at the Men’s T20 World Cup. With 11 victories, they now have the most wins among Associate teams in the tournament’s history, ahead of Scotland (8), Afghanistan and Namibia (5 each), and Ireland (3). Their win-loss ratio of 0.647 remains the best among the 15 Associate nations to have featured in the competition.
For Namibia, the defeat highlighted familiar issues — competitive totals undone by disciplined bowling and composed batting from the opposition. For the Netherlands, it was another statement performance, blending control, depth and big-match temperament on the global stage.
Match Statistics
Venue
Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
