Bas de Leede stars as Netherlands beat Namibia by seven wickets
Bas de Leede stars as Netherlands beat Namibia by seven wickets
Bas de Leede blazed 72 not out as the Netherlands chase 157 in Delhi, sealing a seven-wicket win over Namibia in the T20 World Cup.
Bas de Leede’s unbeaten 72 off 48 balls, featuring 5 fours and 4 sixes, powered the Netherlands to a seven-wicket victory over Namibia in a T20 World Cup Group A clash at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. Namibia had posted 156/8, and the Dutch chased the target in 18 overs. In a tournament after a narrow loss to Pakistan, the Dutch showed renewed intent and focus.
Owing to a shaky start with Max O’Dowd falling early, de Leede took charge at number three, ensuring there were no jitters in the visiting camp. This performance also marked redemption for de Leede, who previously endured the most expensive ODI figures in history (10-0-115-2) against Australia at this very venue during the 2023 World Cup.
De Leede, a member of a cricketing family—his father Tim de Leede played in three ODI World Cups—got going with a six off Max Heino in the fifth over. Had Lourens Steenkamp held on to Colin Ackermann’s catch at the 10th over, Namibia might have disrupted the chase, but the dropped opportunity allowed Ackermann to forge a crucial 70-run partnership with de Leede for the third wicket. The finishing touches came as de Leede steered a full ball for four through short third man, keeping the chase calm alongside captain Scott Edwards.
Namibia’s innings had its moments, with Jan Frylinck and Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton putting together a 50-run stand off 41 balls to provide a foundation. Yet their late surge, which yielded 91 runs in the last 10 overs, wasn’t enough to derail the Dutch. Namibia finished 156/8 in 20 overs, with Frylinck making 30 and Loftie-Eaton 42; van Beek claimed 2/13 and de Leede 2/20.
De Leede wrapped up the win in emphatic fashion and later said, “Coming from a cricketing family in the Netherlands, it is really special to be able to perform and hopefully make my family proud.” This victory puts the Netherlands on the board after their opening defeat and signals their intent in the Group A campaign.
