Lefthander-killer Dutt lays foundation for victory over Namibia
Published at 13 March, 2025The Netherlands has performed well in Namibia on the long road to qualifying for the World Cup in 2027. The Dutch defeated the host country for the second time and are now second in the World Cup League 2. With three top wickets 21-year-old Aryan Dutt was important for the Dutch.
The Netherlands played in an unchanged line-up, with Van Meekeren, Van der Gugten and Kyle Klein as seamers and Dutt, Ackermann and Lion-Cachet as offspinners. Namibia opted for batting in a week which was marked by abundant rain. Opener Davin was quickly picked up by Bas de Leede off the bowling of Kyle Klein.
A catching opportunity and a run-out opportunity in an over by Kyle Klein were not taken. However, these misses were not too expensive thanks to a brilliant bowling spell by Aryan Dutt. The 21-year-old offspinner turned out to be a real nuisance for the lefthanders Green, Frylinck and Loftie-Eaton, whose wickets were all taken by the outstanding Dutt (3-28).
With four wickets down, Gerhard Erasmus was the undisputed danger man. He hit three sixes in the 23rd over, taking Namibia from 65/4/22 (2.96 runs per over) to 90/4/23 (3.91 runs per over).
Even then, there was no man overboard for the Dutch, because in the 32nd over it was 116/5 when bowler Zach Lion-Cachet got a leading edge back from Malan Kruger (15). J.J. Smit fell in the elephant’s trap that Kyle Klein and Bas de Leede had set up for him (129/6).
Namibia wanted nothing better than to bat the full fifty overs, but Paul van Meekeren (3-33) got Trumpelmann caught behind and - in the same over – bowled Fouché with a fantastic offcutter (136/8/40). Erasmus (a well-made 63) tried everything, but played on to Van Meekeren (145/9). Kyle Klein (excellent with 3-14) clean bowled tailender Lungameni as Namibia reached 148 all out.
Netherlands innings
Vikram Singh and Max O'Dowd started the runchase energetically, but both fell on 17. After left arm spinner Scholtz had struck twice, it started to rain for the umpteenth time this week. After the break, Scott Edwards - who was dropped in the sixteenth and seventeenth over - and Colin Ackermann picked up where they left off.
The run rate would never be a problem. They therefore chose for singles in gaps on the tricky pitch and the occasional nice cover drive from Ackermann. Seemingly effortlessly - barring half a run-out chance - they brought the win into the Dutch camp, without further wicket loss. Edwards made 49 not out whilst Ackermann made 54.
The Netherlands is now second in the WCL2 rankings behind the United States.
Photo credit: Cricket Namibia
