Sweden is no match for the Dutch Lions U19 at Cricket World Cup Qualifier Europe Division 2
Published at 27 July, 2024After a convincing win in the first game of the European Division 2 CWC qualifier, The Netherlands also proved to be much too strong for their peers from Sweden on Thursday. At Køge Cricket Klub the total of 66 set by Sweden, was easily chased in nine overs, although still three wickets were lost.
In their first game Sweden managed to post 201 runs, and probably the confidence they got out of this, made them choose to bat first after winning the toss. Some sloppy fielding and missed chances led to second lives of the batsmen, but again the opponent of the Dutch team was not able to build any substantial partnership. It took eight overs before the first wicket fell at a score of 18, a brilliant one-handed catch at long off by Alejo Nota off the bowling of Sam van Giezen.
It took another eleven overs before Shirsak Banerjee managed to bowl the other opening batsman. The scoring rate however never got beyond two runs per over, and then the wickets fell in quick succession. A run out and a fiver for Cedric de Lange did the Swedish cause no good, and the batting innings of Sweden came to an end on 66.
It was a more than doable target, but both openers were cleaned up within three overs. Although too adventurous running between the wickets led to a third wicket being taken, Teun Kloppenburg (23*) and Tom de Leede (19*) brought the win home without any further scalps for the Scandinavians, who got warned twice by the umpires of unsporting and abusive behaviour.
With the second win, the Dutch team is practically assured of a place in the semifinal. Friday is a rest day, Saturday the last team to beat in order to secure the no.1 position in the group, is France, which is momentarily pointless at the third position in the table.
