Netherlands vs USA Highlights: Netherlands beat USA by 19 runs
The Netherlands staged a remarkable comeback to shock a cruising USA by 19 runs, overturning what seemed like a sure victory just 20 minutes before the final wicket fell. Chasing a target of 238 on a flat pitch, the USA needed only 28 runs from 37 balls with five wickets remaining. However, the lower order crumbled spectacularly after Milind Kumar’s gritty 69 off 79 balls ended. The Netherlands sparked the collapse with a fortunate break as Milind mistimed a flick off a harmless delivery down the leg side. After his departure, the USA’s batting fell apart, managing just eight runs from the next 35 deliveries, lacking energy, creativity, or aggression at the crease.
Although blaming the lower order for the defeat would be unfair, the Netherlands bowlers highlighted the USA’s lack of batting awareness in the later stages. Milind Kumar and Shadley Van Schalkwyk shared a crucial 68-run partnership off 83 balls for the sixth wicket, with Milind contributing a brisk 46 off 44, while Shadley played a cautious 19 off 39. However, the 36-year-old fast-bowling all-rounder failed to take on the role of aggressor after Milind’s departure, adding just 2 runs off 10 deliveries. Noshthush Kenjige, Jasdeep Singh, and Harmeet Singh followed suit, falling in quick succession.
Vivian Kingma disrupted the USA’s chase early on, delivering a major blow by trapping Steven Taylor LBW with the second ball of the innings. He then dismissed USA’s key batsman Monank Patel three deliveries later, forcing a thick edge to point with a delivery that straightened slightly. Smit Patel and Aaron Jones responded with an aggressive counter-attack, hitting a series of boundaries that kept the Dutch on the back foot for the next hour and a half. In their quest for swing, Kingma and Klein overcompensated with their lengths, allowing the pair to capitalize with some elegant off drives.
Smit continued his aggressive approach against leg-spinner Shiraz Ahmed, smashing a powerful pull off Ahmed’s first delivery. However, Ahmed quickly outfoxed Smit with a googly on the very next ball, trapping him LBW. After Smit’s well-crafted 38, Ahmed struck again, dismissing Aaron Jones just three runs shy of his half-century with another googly, which Jones meekly chipped to mid-wicket. Shayan Jahangir showed promise, racing to 20 off 24 balls, but handed a simple catch back to Aryan Dutt in a soft dismissal. At 142 for 4 in the 31st over, Milind teamed up with Shadley, steering the chase towards a target that seemed within reach.
Earlier in the day, USA debutant Juanoy Drysdale claimed his first international wicket with his eighth delivery when Michael Levitt, shuffling across his off stump, had his leg stump shattered. However, Drysdale quickly experienced the ups and downs of international cricket as Vikramjit Singh punished him for drifting too far outside off, slamming three square drives to the boundary. Max O’Dowd initially played a supporting role to Vikramjit during the first PowerPlay but broke free in the 11th over, launching a shot over mid-wicket off Taylor and later driving Shadley through the point boundary.
After being kept in check for 10 overs, O’Dowd reignited his innings, hitting three boundaries on the leg side after Taylor strayed onto his legs. However, Taylor had the final say, bowling O’Dowd out just one run short of his half-century. The introduction of Milind into the attack led to a cluster of wickets for the Netherlands. Vikramjit Singh, shortly after reaching his half-century, made a costly mistake with a risky run, falling just inches short of his ground. Milind then ended veteran Wesley Barresi’s determined innings by trapping him LBW, and Noah Croes was run out minutes later following a mix-up with captain Scott Edwards, as the Netherlands lost three wickets in the span of six balls.
Edwards stabilized the innings alongside Shariz Ahmed. While Edwards maintained an aggressive approach, Ahmed focused on holding down one end. Edwards ultimately bolstered the faltering Dutch innings with a brisk 65 off 55 balls, before Klein came in to add the finishing touches, guiding the Netherlands to a respectable total of 237 in their 50 overs. This proved sufficient for the Dutch to extend their unbeaten record against the USA across all forms of cricket.
