Netherlands humble Bangladesh by 95 runs in Group B opener
Superb bowling performance restricts Bangladesh to 144-8 in chase of 239
Van Meekeren and Edwards star with bat and ball for Dutch
Netherlands sprung a surprise in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 on Saturday, October 28, as they outplayed Bangladesh by 95 runs in their Group B opener at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The Dutch bowlers, led by Paul van Meekeren's three wickets, restricted Bangladesh to 144-8 in their chase of 239, handing them their first defeat of the tournament.
Earlier, Max O'Dowd and Tom Cooper set the platform for Netherlands with a 97-run opening stand. O'Dowd made a patient 68, while Cooper added a brisk 41. Bas de Leede and Ryan ten Doeschate also chipped in with valuable contributions, taking Netherlands to a competitive total of 239.
In reply, Bangladesh never really got going in their chase. Liton Das top-scored with 36, but he lacked support from the other end. Shakib Al Hasan and Afif Hossain made 29 and 28, respectively, but they failed to build substantial partnerships.
Van Meekeren was the pick of the Netherlands bowlers, finishing with figures of 3-36. Logan van Beek and Shariz Ahmed also contributed with two wickets each.
The victory gives Netherlands a much-needed boost in the tournament, while Bangladesh will be looking to bounce back in their next match against England on Tuesday, October 31.
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