LUCKNOW: Afghanistan on Friday beat the Netherlands by seven wickets in Lucknow, surpassing Pakistan on the points table for the World Cup 2023.

Afghanistan’s start for the 180-run target chase was unimpressive as openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran could not build a strong stand. Logan van Beek and Roelof van der Merwe were the Netherlands bowlers with wickets to their name. Rahmat Shah (52) and Hashmatullah Shahidi (48) stood tall for Afghanistan at the 20-over mark of their innings. After Shah was removed by Saqib Zulfiqar, Azmat Omarzai joined Shahidi at the crease and the pair sealed victory for their side with 111 balls to spare.

Earlier, Netherlands set a target of 180 runs for Afghanistan. A series of run outs plagued the Netherlands after a bright start from their top order batters. Netherlands's new opening pair didn't last too long at the crease as the pinpoint accuracy of Mujeeb Ur Rahman accounted for Barresi in the very first over. He trapped the veteran Dutch batter lbw for 3.

Later, Max O'Dowd and Colin Ackermann were positive as they made 42 and 29, respectively. Sybrand Engelbrecht joined O’Dowd at the crease after Ackermann was dismissed. He made 58 to boost the total. After their dismissal, no player from middle and tail order could recover from the pressure as the were bowled out for 179 runs.

Both, Afghanistan and Netherlands are still in the race to reach the knockout stages of the world cup following early triumphs over top-four contenders and clinical wins in their last start. A fourth victory here for Afghanistan would have them draw level on eight points with both Australia and New Zealand in third and fourth-place, and firmly in the mix for a spot in the knockout stages.

With only two wins so far, Netherlands have a trickier path to the semi-finals but could give their chances a huge boost with two points from this crunch clash. The sides have only met in nine previous ODIs with Netherlands winning the first of those in 2009 but only coming out on top once more in 2012. Afghanistan won all three of their encounters in Doha at the start of last year when batting first and holding Netherlands at arm’s length in the chase, but the stakes are much higher this time for the two emerging sides both in good form.

The inspirational Netherlands skipper Scott Edwards has led the way for his side while showing that he well and truly belongs on the big stage during the showpiece event in India.

Edwards has 204 runs at an average of 51 in Netherlands’ six matches to date, including fifties in both of their victories so far at the Cricket World Cup.

Published in The Daily National Courier, November, 04 2023

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