Super Sikander demolishes Spain, but European T10 title goes to England
Published at 20 October, 2023In Cartama, Spain, the Netherlands A lost its European T10 title on Friday evening. In the final, the Orange reserves did not have enough with 145 runs. The English overtook this total in 8.1 overs.
After the effort of the Netherlands A against Spain (see report below) the energy seemed a bit lacking in the final. England won the toss and let the Netherlands A bat first. On 48 the first wicket fell (Roel Verhagen 29 off 12 balls). Teun Kloppenburg was dropped five (!) times and rode his luck with a well-made 76 not out off only 30 balls. It was 145/3, an ‘ok’ but according to previous games gettable score. Sturgess took 2-24 for the English.
Throughout the tournament, Dutch bowling was characterised by a lot of variety, but the bowling in the final was terrible and almost gave England a free pass to victory. Tom Hinley came off the field as an English hero with a formidable 71 not out from just 24 balls (9x6). With this, the title went back to the 2021 champion.
Earlier in the day
Earlier on Friday, the numbers 3 and 4 first played against each other. Spain defeated Ireland and still had a chance to make the final. The loser of 1 versus 2 (England vs Netherlands) would get a second chance, similar to what is customary in the Dutch play-offs.
Against England, the dangerous Lincoln was dropped on zero. The drop was not expensive, because moments later Olivier Elenbaas beat the Englishman with a slower delivery (ct Floyd). One ball later, the Hermes DVS combination Braat/ Elenbaas provided Hinley's 'golden duck'. Moments later, Kingma Scott got caught behind: 20/3 and the Orange seemed to be cruising.
However, that was a sham, since Clayton Floyd's first over went for 34 (by Sam Young). Eventually Musa Ahmad broke the partnership with a fantastic outfield catch (83/4/6.4).
The English had started this match with a much better Net Run Rate and showed convincingly where that came from. Sam Young was eventually caught for 84 (off 27 balls) with twelve (!) sixes to his name. 158/6 was the challenging end result. Elenbaas 3-23, Kingma 1-12.
With ‘first ballers’ for both Teun Kloppenburg and Shirase Rasool (great catch by Andy Rishton), the Netherlands A got off to a disastrous start. Michael Levitt (17 from 9) took on Sturgess under, but was unlucky when Edwards (3-22) picked up a fantastic catch off his own bowling. Musa Ahmad, so far not in his T10 form from last year, started with three sixes and his fellow lefthander Roel Verhagen (26 off 10) got in on the act before he was caught in the covers (86/4/5.1). Musa reached his 50 in 18 balls with 8x6, but fell immediately afterwards (101/5). Sikander Zulfiqar was dropped on 10; 26 was asked of the last over. However, 143/6 meant a defeat by a margin of 15 runs. Rishton picked up three catches.
Second chance against Spain
In the rematch against Spain, the Netherlands A opted for fielding again. Spain raced to 76/0/4 due to poor bowling from the Netherlands and some good fortune for opener Babar, who reached his 50 in 16 balls. His fourth thick edge however landed safely in the hands of Kingma (91/1/5.1).
'Hurricane Hamza' Saleem Dar hit three sixes of his first three deliveries. 136/2/7 was the unreal score with Saleem Dar on 40 not out off seven (!) balls. His fifty came in 11 balls. Sebastiaan Braat had the pleasure of bowling him for 54 as well as Doyle Calle for 63, but could not prevent Spain from smashing 182/4 in the available ten overs. Braat 2-27, Jain 2-18.
An almost impossible strike rate of 300 (!) per person was therefore requested. Kloppenburg (20) hit three beautiful sixes and - understandably - wanted to keep up the pace. The requested run rate increased to 20 runs per over. Verhagen regained his timing, but when Rasool, Musa and Levitt went out on consecutive balls, the game seemed to be over.
However, Sikander Zulfiqar played a brilliant knock and with 22 asked from the last over, Netherlands A still had a chance to win. Verhagen (43 not out off 23) was smart enough to hit a single, after which Sikander (92 not out off 21 balls, with 12x6!) brought the win (and thus a place in the final) into the Dutch camp in an unlikely way with 6 6 6 wd 4.
