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The Dutch cricket team, currently the only Associate Nation competing in the World Cup, first caused a major upset by defeating South Africa by 38 runs in Dharamsala.They continued their giant-killing spree by defending a modest total of 229 against Bangladesh, bowling them out for 142 and securing an impressive 87-run victory.
“Every win we get is going to be big for us and for cricket in the Netherlands. We want to inspire young kids to take up the game,” De Leede shared with reporters in a post-match interaction at Eden Gardens.
“We also want to try and get the ICC’s attention to start looking at us as a potentially bigger nation in the coming years. So definitely, every win helps.”
While the aspirations of the Dutch cricketers to gain Test status and increased exposure have been voiced, it remains uncertain whether the ICC will entertain such requests. Awarding a country Test status typically depends on various factors, including the domestic cricket structure, and Dutch cricketers predominantly participate in county cricket to gain exposure.
Although their chances of making it to the World Cup semi-finals appear slim, as they need to win all three remaining matches and rely on favourable results from other teams, the Netherlands remain determined.
With four points from six matches, they are set to face Afghanistan in Lucknow on November 3, followed by a match against the struggling defending champions, England, in Pune on November 8. Their campaign will conclude with a match against hosts India in Bengaluru on November 12.
De Leede stated, “It depends on how other teams do, how big our chances are for the semi-final. But for us, the goal is to keep winning as many games as we can.”
The Netherlands’ victory over Bangladesh showcased their adaptability to challenging conditions, with a well-planned short-ball strategy. De Leede shared his insights, “It was a tricky pitch and wasn’t the easiest track to bat on. It wasn’t easy to score runs. With runs on the board, it was very clear what we needed to do.”
The Netherlands displayed resilience and depth in their batting lineup, and De Leede praised the team’s middle-order players for their contributions. Captain Scott Edwards top-scored with his second fifty in the tournament, helping the team reach a total beyond 200.
Their strategic approach and adaptability shone through. De Leede mentioned, “We didn’t need to score 350 or something like that on a pitch like this. The way they soaked up the pressure, ran hard, tried to limit the dots, and put pressure on Bangladesh was great to see.”
He also highlighted the team’s ability to play spin well and praised their middle order. De Leede played a key role in their victory by taking the prized wickets of Mahmudullah and Mehidy Hasan Miraz using a well-executed short-ball strategy against the Bangladesh batters.
(With inputs from PTI)
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