Max O'Dowd and Kyle Klein seal T20I win over Oman
Published at 16 November, 2024The Netherlands has won the third and final T20I – and with it, the Series -- against Oman. The Netherlands' 147/8 (O'Dowd 66) proved sufficient, thanks in large part to a special bowling performance by Kyle Klein, who took four wickets.
Not for the first time, captain Scott Edwards lost the toss and the Dutch team was sent in. The early loss of Michael Levitt, who returned from injury, was compensated for by a partnership of 59 for the second wicket of Max O'Dowd and Teja Nidamanuru. O'Dowd didn't fall until the nineteenth over for a crucial 66. In the twentieth over, only six runs were added and three more wickets fell. This brought the total of the Netherlands to 147/9.
Oman innings
Oman's top order has proven to be downright dangerous on this tour. Kyle Klein, however, was in top form and – aided by two catches from Max O'Dowd – took the first three wickets. Viv Kingma joined the fray and when Klein came back and took his fourth wicket, it was 25-6. Resistance in the tail was initially broken by Paul van Meekeren (2-24), who appeared on the scene as the third change and put 48/8 on the board.
After that, the draft came back in - from a Dutch perspective. Oman made a whopping 69 for the ninth wicket, but had to make forty runs from the last over and thus hope for a no ball. Paul van Meekeren limited the damage to ten runs off the final over, but the Netherlands' winning margin was now smaller than had been expected earlier in the day. Oman finished on 118/9 and Kyle Klein with a career-best 4-16. Oman's number 10, Shakeel Ahmed, top scored with 45 runs off 33 balls.
In terms of result it was a good conclusion for the Netherlands, which will look back with mixed feelings on the One Day Internationals in the context of the WCL2 and will look back with a little more pleasure on the T20I Series against Oman.
