Super Saqib guides the Netherlands past Denmark; Sweden also beaten
Published at 21 September, 2022On the second day of the Dream11 European Cricket Championship, the Netherlands showed that they are quickly getting used to the popular T10 format. Denmark got to 117 runs, but earlier the Netherlands had made 131 thanks to an unparalleled innings by Saqib Zulfiqar (43 out of 13). Later the Dutch successfully chased 119 Swedish runs.
Gorlee likes to score with rampshots and sweeps. The trap was set, now all Denmark needed was a fielder who could catch it. Gorlee continued to ‘ramp’ as long as the Danes did not put a deep fine leg in place. Klein (13 off 7) was not so fortunate; he fell victim to a ball that kept low.
Not for the first time this week, captain Braat played a fine – but unfortunately somewhat short – innings, 15 off six balls. Shortly after, Gorlee (30 off 16) was dismissed.
From his first ball (a reverse sweep for six) Saqib Zulfiqar looked threatening and he more than lived up to that, with an insane innings of 43 not out off just thirteen balls. Instead of a lacklustre score of around 100, there was now a proud 131/5 on the scoreboard.
Denmark innings
With Floyd bowling, Braat was not on the boundary and had to sprint back on a lofted drive. With half an eye on the boundary rope, he grabbed the ball out of the air with his right hand; an unlikely catch!
After two economical overs from the legspinners, Braat put himself on; at the perfect time, because in the sixth over he picked up two Danish wickets. As a result, Denmark had to make seventeen runs per over in the last four overs.
Magnus Kristensen (29 out of 12) made a valiant attempt, but to no avail. The Danes were stranded at 117; a handsome score, but roughly one over from the target of 132. Floyd and Braat each took two wickets.
Netherlands chases 119 Swedish runs
For the evening game, Sweden won the toss and opted to bat. The Swedes, many of Pakistani origin, are known for going for their shots from ball one. Share Ali, missed early in his innings, made 52 off 24 balls and Nasratullah Sultan, with forearms like tree trunks, 44 off 14. Boissevain (1-6) and Klein (0-5) held their own very well in this batting violence.
119 runs is a solid target, but left arm seamer Momand helped the Orange in the saddle with ten wides from the first two balls and final figures of 1-40 in his two overs. Fireworks came from Ryan Klein (27 off 10) and Musa Ahmad (33 off eleven balls), who showed he was more at ease in the middle order.
Helped by 22 extras and woeful fielding from the Swedes, the Netherlands surpassed the Swedish total after only eight overs, so the Dutch made more than fifteen runs per over. The Netherlands is at the top of Group B and will meet Denmark and Finland on Wednesday.
Remaining fixtures:
Wednesday 21 Sep | Netherlands XI - Denmark| 11:30
Wednesday 21 Sep | Netherlands XI - Finland| 17:30
Thursday 22 Sep | Hungary - Netherlands XI| 11:30
Thursday 22 Sep | Finland - Netherlands XI | 17:30
For more information, squads, fixtures and results, please visit:
https://www.ecn.cricket/european-cricket-championship/scores-fixtures
https://www.ecn.cricket/european-cricket-championship/players
Live on youtube: ECN – European Cricket Network 2022
