Netherlands thumped Canada by 63 runs in the CWC League 2 match at Sportpark Duivesteijn, Voorburg. Batting first, Scott Edwards’ valiant knock of 72 off 94 balls helped the Netherlands post a competitive total of 220 runs before being bundled out in 47.2 overs. In response, Canada lost wickets at regular intervals and were skittled for 157 runs in 35.4 overs, courtesy of Paul van Meekeren’s (5/28) brilliant bowling performance.
Match Summary
- Toss: Nicholas Kirton (CAN) won the toss and opted to bowl.
- Netherlands Innings: 220/10 in 47.2 overs
- Scott Edwards: 72 (94)
- Noah Croes: 31 (44)
- Key Bowler: Kaleem Sana (4/30) in 7.2 overs
- Canada Innings: 157/10 in 35.4 overs
- Shreyas Movva: 47* (72)
- Aaron Johnson: 32 (28)
- Key Bowler: Paul van Meekeren (5/28) in 9.4 overs
Key Moments
Kaleem Sana Draws the First Blood
The left-arm pacer delivered an impressive performance in the recently concluded Global T20 Canada and has continued his excellent form in this series. Sana opened the bowling for Canada and needed only six balls to claim his first wicket. He kept Michael Levitt scoreless for the first five deliveries of the innings before trapping him on the sixth, drawing first blood in his opening over. The 30-year-old continued his merry ways in the match and grabbed four wickets for 30 runs in 7.2 overs, helping his side to bundle out the Netherlands for 220 runs.
Scott Edwards’ Gritty Knock
The Dutch skipper came out to bat at number five with his side in a spot of bother. The right-hander focused on strike rotation and added a 50+ run partnership with Noah Croes (31 off 44) to steady the sinking ship. The 27-year-old led his side from the front and notched up his fifty on the occasion but failed to convert it into a three-digit figure, departing for 72 runs off 94 balls. Edwards’ valuable knock propelled the Netherlands to a total of 220 runs, a score that seemed out of reach for the Dutch at one point in the contest. 
Johnson & Bajwa’s Solid Start
In pursuit of 220 runs, Aaron Johnson (32 off 28) and Dilpreet Bajwa (20 off 25) spearheaded the innings for Canada, and the duo took on the Dutch bowlers from the outset. The opening pair manipulated the field well and scored briskly, providing a solid start for the visitors. They capitalized on loose deliveries, adding a 50-run partnership for the first wicket. However, suddenly, both openers fell prey to Vivian Kingma and returned to the hut inside the first powerplay.
Paul van Meekeren’s Havoc
The 31-year-old pacer proved too hot to handle for the Canadian batters, who succumbed to his bowling prowess. Van Meekeren consistently hit the right areas, not allowing the batters to free their arms against him. He dismantled Canada’s batting lineup, taking 5 wickets while conceding just 28 runs in 9.4 overs. His stupendous bowling skittled Canada to 157 runs in 35.4 overs, helping the Dutch secure a massive 63-run victory in the CWC League 2 match.
Implications and Future Prospects
It was a dismal performance from Canada’s middle-order batters, who failed to capitalize on the foundation laid by the openers and lost wickets regularly. Pargat Singh, Harsh Thaker, Nicholas Kirton, and Ravinderpal Singh were all dismissed for single digits, and they will need to step up in the next game. Shreyas Movva was the lone warrior for the visitors, remaining unbeaten on 47, but he lacked support from the other end. In the bowling department, Saad Bin Zafar, despite being an experienced player, was the only bowler to go wicketless in this contest.
Conversely, the Netherlands’ batters also struggled to score runs in this contest, and if it wasn’t for skipper Edwards, they might have been skittled for a paltry total. Their bowlers exploited the conditions well and successfully defended 220 runs. Kyle Klein, however, proved costly for the Dutch, conceding 40 runs in five overs, and he will need to work on his bowling ahead of the next game.
Conclusion
The Netherlands have won three matches on the trot in the tri-series of CWC League 2 and will aim to continue their impressive form and defeat USA in their last match of this series. The Dutch are sitting on top of CWC League 2 points table, with ten points from seven games.
Conversely, Canada has yet to win a match in this tri-series, having lost three in a row. They currently sit third on the CWC League 2 points table, with eight points from seven games, and will aim to secure a win in their final match of the ongoing tri-series to grab two crucial points.
Also Read
Follow us on 𝕏
