
The opening game of the ongoing ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 was held at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens. After winning the toss, the Netherlands chose to bat first, and both sides announced two changes to their starting eleven. Teje Nidamanuru and Roelof van der Merwe were replaced by Wesley Barresi and Shariz Ahmed when they joined the Dutch squad. Hasan Mahmud and Nasum Ahmed were replaced by Mahedi Hasan and Taskin Ahmed in the Bangladeshi squad. The Netherlands scored 229 runs in the first innings. Here is a recap.
Bangladesh pacers dominate powerplay
With his first over of bowling, Taskin Ahmed got rid of Vikramjit Singh. Max ODowd, the second opener, was also dispatched by Shoriful Islam from the opposing end. The oldest player to play in the World Cup 2023 was Wesley Barresi. Following a pair of swift wicket losses, Colin Ackermann and Barresi gave the Dutch batsmen some control. In the sixth over, Barresi smacked two fours off Shoriful. Tasking bowled a maiden over in the next over. Barresi persisted in his assault, hitting three fours in the opening two overs. In the ninth over, captain Shakib al Hasan came into the attack and spin was added. Mehidy Hasan Miraz let up seven runs in his final over of the powerplay. In the first ten overs, the Netherlands amassed 47 runs at the expense of two wickets.
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Bangladesh keep things tight with regular wickets
In just his second over after entering the attack in the 12th over, Mustafizur Rahman claimed a wicket. Barresi made a brilliant 41 runs in a run-a-ball after being removed by Mustafizur. Ackermann was removed by Shakib in the next over, sending both set hitters back to the pavilion. In the sixteenth over, Bangladesh had a chance to take the third wicket, but Litton Das at gully and Mushfiqur Rahim lost a number of catches.
The Netherlands’ rebuilding phase was initiated by captain Scott Edwards and batsman Bas de Leede, who scored 42 runs in 10 overs (17–26). Returning to the attack, Taskin dismissed de Leede in his second over of the spell, ending the vital connection.
In order to maintain pressure on Edwards and Sybrand Engelbrecht, who gave up just 48 runs in 13 overs, Taskin and the spinners from Bangladesh bowled a few calm overs.
Bangladeshi bowlers control death overs
In the 41st over, Edwards reached his half-century mark. Shakib finished with 10-1-37-1 to round off his economic quota. In the 44th over, Edwards increased the scoring rate by hitting Taskin for two boundaries. However, Mustafizur Rahman claimed the captain’s vital wicket in the next over, sending the batting inning into disarray. Edwards smashed six fours his route to scoring 68 runs in 89 balls. Engelbrecht was dismissed by Mahedi Hasan during the subsequent over. In 61 balls, Engelbrecht scored 35 runs.
Shariz Ahmed was run out in the 48th over which went for 10 runs. Out of the 10 runs that were scored in the over six came off as extras.