March 14, 2011 : Today was a match between Bangladesh and Netherlands in the ICC World Cup 2011. This was the 32nd match of the league. The match was played at Chittagong. Netherlands have won the toss and elected to Bat. Bangladesh took a step closer to achieving their dream of making the World Cup quarter-finals when they dismissed the Netherlands for just 160 in Chittagong. With Group B still wide open in terms of play-off qualification, Bangladesh need to win this fixture and their next game against South Africa to ensure their place in the last eight. The pressure on the home side is immense, particularly after their dramatic win over England last week, and Jamie Siddons’ men could hardly have responded better to the situation. From the outset the Dutch were under the cosh, with the new ball pairing of seamer Shafiul Islam and spinner Abdur Razzak frugal in the opening exchanges, indeed 92 off the first 136 balls were dot balls. Dutch openers Eric Szwarczynski and Wesley Barresi found limited scoring options – a boundary Razzak in the second over was the only sign of aggression in the early overs. At the top of the order Eric Szwarczynski (28) and Wesley Barresi (10) struggled throughout and it came as no surprise when Barresi was trapped in front by Shakib Al Hasan. In an attempt to up the scoring rate Mudassar Bukhari (6) was sent up the order but one lusty blow aside the experiment was a failure, with Bukhari becoming the first of Razzak’s three victims. Szwarczynski was next to go, and his dismissal was one of four disappointing run outs. It is one thing to be subdued by good bowling, but the Dutch will feel on too many occasions they were architects of their own downfall. Undoubtedly the Netherlands’ best batsmen, Ryan ten Doeschate (53 not out) was forced to watch in frustration as one partner after another fell just as partnerships were beginning to form. First Tom Cooper (29) was run out and then Alexi Kervezee (18) threw his wicket away playing one shot too many when the Bangladeshis had been held at bay for a period. The lower order provided little resistance and it was left to ten Doeschate to mount a late surge which he did with some success before running out of partners. The dominance of the Bangladesh bowlers can best exemplified by the fact that only five hits to the fence were registered in the first thirty overs. The target is pretty low and Bangladesh have enough firepower in their batting line-up to scale it down. But, cricket is the game of uncertainties and it’s never over till it’s over.
Match Notes:
Toss – Netherlands have won the toss and elected to Bat.
Innings Break – 160 All-out 46.2 overs
Result – Bangladesh beat Netherlands by 6 wickets
Imrul Kayes stroked an unbeaten half-century to guide Bangladesh to a six-wicket ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 win over the Netherlands that piles the pressure on England ahead of their final group game.By dismissing the Netherlands for 160 and then reaching 166 for four in reply, Bangladesh have put themselves in position to qualify for the quarter-finals should England fail to beat the West Indies on 17th March. This was Bangladesh’s second straight win in the competition, both coming at Chittagong following their two-wicket defeat of England which further opened up Group B of the tournament. Abdur Razzak took three for 29 as the Netherlands, who beat Bangladesh the last time the two sides met, struggled with the bat before they were all out in 46.2 overs. Ryan ten Doeschate hit a valiant unbeaten 53 in 71 balls but regular wickets – four to run outs – checked their progress with only Tom Cooper (29) and Eric Szwarczynski (28) also making starts. Ten Doeschate hit two fours and a six in his 71-ball innings to give the Dutch a slight chance but with Kayes in prime form, they were quickly in as much trouble in the field as they had been with the ball. He followed up his half-century against England with a measured innings of 73 not out in 113 balls, hitting six fours to guide his side home in 41.2 overs. The hosts lost Tamim Iqbal early when he was bowled by Mudassar Bukhari without scoring but contributions of 35 from Junaid Siddique and 37 from Shahriar Nafees aided a solid batting performance. Peter Borren had Siddique caught by Pieter Seelaar and Cooper bowled Nafees and then had Shakib Al Hasan caught by ten Doeschate for one but there was to be no stopping Bangladesh, for whom Mushfiqur Rahim was unbeaten on 11 at the close. Bangladesh complete their group matches when the play South Africa on 19th February and they may still be in with a chance of qualification even if England beat the West Indies, although they would be relying on other results going their way – namely Ireland getting a result against the Proteas on 15th March. The Netherlands, who have yet to score a point, have no chance of further progression but play Ireland on 18th March.
