Bizarre turnaround leads to loss for Dutch cricketers by one run
Published at 11 November, 2024In Muscat, the Dutch cricketers were defeated by Oman in the hunt for a World Cup ticket in a match with a bizarre twist. Batting first, Oman started excellently with 94 runs without loss. After that, spin bowlers Roelof van der Merwe (3-30) and especially Colin Ackermann (4-22) raced through the Omani batting side as the host nation was bowled out for 155. The Netherlands had a lot of trouble passing this low score. With the last two batsmen on the pitch, it almost worked. On 154, however, Aryan Dutt hit the ball into the hands of the long on and the Netherlands lost by one run.
Teja Nidamanuru came into the team for Shariz Ahmad. Although seamers Kyle Klein and Timm van der Gugten bowled economically (after winning the toss), the Netherlands quickly tried to force a breakthrough with spinners Van der Merwe and Dutt. However, Jatinder Singh and Ashish Odedara got off to a good start for Oman. A bright spot for the Dutch was that the run rate did not exceed four runs per over.
A simple-looking dropped catch at 81 - Singh on 42 - didn't help the Dutch cause, but at 94 it was Kyle Klein who was successful and got Odedara (41) LBW. With Roelof van der Merwe back in the attack, the second wicket fell (95/2). Halfway through the innings, the score looked a bit brighter from a Dutch perspective.
Offspinner Colin Ackermann came into the attack as fifth change and struck with his second ball (106/3/27.2). A brilliant stumping by Edwards led to the departure of his opposite number, captain Singh for 59 (106/4).
After that, Ackermann and Van der Merwe made sure that the scorecard looked more like a football betting form: 0 2 2 1 3 2 3. Oman lost seven wickets for 19 runs in roughly ten overs - a great comeback by the Netherlands. Even a modestly wagging tail couldn't make the difference; Oman was all out for 155 runs. Kyle Klein (2-24) and Roelof van der Merwe (3-30) had good figures, but were beaten by Ackermann who took a career best 4-22 with brilliant bowling.
Netherlands innings
Vikram Singh and Max O'Dowd were unable to repeat their heroics from the match against the Emirates. After the quick loss of the top order, there was some recovery from Noah Croes and Scott Edwards. Ackermann, Edwards, De Leede and Croes hit balls into the hands of fielders (70/6). It wasn't until the seventh wicket that there was a significant partnership (52) before Timm van der Gugten (17) was caught by the slip fielder (122/7).
Teja Nidamanuru (34) and Roelof van der Merwe seemed to be heading for the win, but both played across the line with a required run rate of less than 2.5 runs per over.
Tailenders Kyle Klein and Aryan Dutt almost managed to turn the game in the Netherlands' favour. However, with one run left for a tie, two for the win and 27 (!) balls to go, Dutt hit the ball straight into the hands of the long on: the Netherlands lost by one run. Aamir Kaleem took 4-24 for Oman, Shakeel Ahmad 2-15 in his ten overs.
In 2025 and 2026, the Netherlands will play several more ODI Series against the global sub-top. The top-4 of this World Cup League 2 will compete with a number of top countries in 2027 in an attempt to get a World Cup ticket.
