New Zealand beats Netherlands 322-223 despite skilful Ackermann knock
Published at 09 October, 2023After the loss against Pakistan last week, New Zealand proved to be too strong on Monday. The Kiwis, who were sent in by Dutch captain Scott Edwards, made 322 runs. The Netherlands managed 223 runs with Colin Ackermann (69) as their top scorer.
Bat or bowl first...? Perhaps the proponents of batting first had already forgotten New Zealand's relentless chase against reigning world champions England. Be that as it may, Aryan Dutt and Ryan Klein (on the team for the injured Van Beek) started with three maidens. However, New Zealand soon undid that slow start with a number of boundaries. At this stage, all New Zealand had to do was wait for the bad ball. The result was 52/0 after eight overs.
Time to let Van der Merwe have a go. The old rot was also attacked immediately, but got his revenge when Conway (32) was caught by Bas de Leede at deep mid wicket. A big run-out opportunity on Will Young was missed, but Young was dismissed for 70 when he mistimed a ball from Van Meekeren and smashed it into the hands of Bas de Leede, this time fielding at mid on (144/2).
The Netherlands was a touch unlucky when Ryan Klein seemed to have Ravindra (51) LBW. The “umpire's call” saved the lefthander. In the same over, the usually brilliant fielder Engelbrecht (in the team for Saqib Zulfiqar) uncharacteristically dropped a not too difficult chance from Mitchell at short mid wicket.
The Dutch team fought their way back into the game – thanks in part to a world-class catch from Van der Merwe – but two sloppy overs in the death by Van Meekeren and De Leede gave the Kiwis 38 more runs and with that a - from their perspective - more than acceptable final score of 322/7. Van Meekeren (2-59), Dutt (2-62) and Van der Merwe (2-56) bowled excellent spells in the conditions. Edwards was alert behind the stumps as usual with two catches and a stumping: Latham (53).
Netherlands innings
Vikram Singh (12) was dropped in the slip cordon, hit a beautiful straight drive for four shortly after, but was eventually bowled by Henry (22/1). O'Dowd was adjudged LBW off a ball that would have just hit his legstump. Bas de Leede appeared to hit Ravindra for six, but Boult juggled the ball back into his hands at long off. A misunderstanding led to the unfortunate end of Nidamanuru (21, run out) (117/4, 50-run partnership).
Ackermann reached his well-made half-century in the 28th over and Dutch hopes were pinned on a great partnership with Edwards. However, after forty runs, Ackermann (69) hit a mistimed reverse sweep into the hands of Henry (157/5). Scott Edwards (30) was all over Santner, but the left arm spinner had the last laugh with a cunning slower delivery: 175/6.
Van der Merwe was dropped, survived a close stumping and was caught off a reverse sweep - on three consecutive balls. Debutant Sybrand Engelbrecht, batting at number 7, looked more convincing. He survived a bizarre stumping when he was on 19. The third umpire, Joel Wilson, was of the opinion that keeper Latham had taken the ball in front of the stumps. In the end, Engelbrecht made 29. It didn't make much difference to the match result: the Netherlands were all out for 223. Mitch Santner took 5-59.
On 17 October, the Netherlands will play the match against South Africa in Dharamsala at 10.30 CET.
Photo credit: ICC/Getty
