Netherlands overcame all the odds and managed to create a legacy in the ODI World Cup 2023. On paper, teams like Zimbabwe, West Indies and Ireland looked better, but the serious Netherlands team surprised everyone by securing India’s ticket in the qualification. However, the Scott Edwards-led team was not expected to be competitive, especially after their poor performance against Karnataka ahead of the mega tournament.
One thing that hasn’t changed since then is the smile on his face. Most of the players are not even full-time cricketers. Paul van Meekeren used to work as an Uber Eats delivery boy a few years ago. Cricket has been their passion and hence, they all have come together perhaps not to write history but for history to remember them. In whatever part of the country they played, they were followed by a huge section of supporters and this shows that the team is going in the right direction. What they probably need is proper infrastructure and playing time, which will enable them to reach greater heights in the future.
Talking about their performance in the tournament, Netherlands finished at the bottom of the table with four points from nine matches. Despite this, he should be extremely proud of the effort he has put in as he has earned the respect of cricket fanatics around the world. Here’s what went in their favor, what their mistakes were and what the future looks like:
the good, the bad and the not so pretty
Wins against South Africa and Bangladesh in world Cup These were certainly career highlights for the Dutch cricketers. At Dharamsala, where the surface often favors bowlers, South Africa had the upper hand. However, Netherlands put in an incredible performance with the ball and registered a historic 38-run win (DLS method) for their side.
Once again the bowlers made it possible against Bangladesh at Eden Gardens. They have been a force to be reckoned with in the tournament and this will be their biggest positive in the tournament. The sense of responsibility of players like Aryan Dutt, Van Meekeren and Roelof van der Merwe should serve as an example for the younger players.
Another big plus point was definitely Scott Edwards. The captain was brilliant behind the stumps and with the bat. He was spot on in his decision making in most cases and liked to play an aggressive brand of cricket, which should remain the norm for him moving forward.
Could they qualify for the Champions Trophy 2025? He had the confidence and a good team to do this. However, the batsmen failed to perform well. Opening batsmen Max O’Dowd and Vikramjit Singh came into the tournament with high expectations but failed to perform up to their potential. Wesley Barresi also could not progress. Colin Ackerman, Scott and Siebrand Engelbrecht were sensational throughout but a little support from the top order could have made things different.
the moment that mattered
South Africa was one of the favorites to win the ODI World Cup 2023. He had an incredible performance in the ODI series against Australia and had a great start in the mega tournament. Hence, he was expected to thrash Netherlands in Dharamshala. However, thanks to an excellent innings from captain Scott Edwards, the Netherlands once again defeated the Proteas in the World Cup.
He scored 78* off 69 balls as Netherlands posted 245 runs on the board. Nevertheless, South Africa looked to be the favorite to chase it down. However, Logan van Beek, Van der Merwe, Van Meekeren and Bas de Leede played their best cricket to register a historic win. The players were very happy after the win as it was a moment that the players and fans will remember for a long time.
remember the name
Scott Edwards, Aryan Dutt and Paul van Meekeren were the guiding lights for the Netherlands in the tournament. The Dutch captain scored 259 runs in nine matches but it is not just about the runs but the brand of cricket played by his team in the tournament. Opening the bowling with Aryan Dutt, setting aggressive fields even against top-tier teams and withstanding the pressure required immense courage and confidence, which the captain possessed.
When it comes to Dutt and Van Meekeren, they knew their roles well and gave their best. Dutt put pressure on the opponent with the new ball while Van Meekeren bowled the middle overs. Another impressive thing was the amount of passion and dedication. roelof van der merwe Is. He played some brilliant cameos with the bat, including a match against South Africa and with the ball, the 38-year-old showed that age is just a number.
future fermentation
The Netherlands now know the recipe and all they have to do is cook it well. Their opening pair have failed to perform on the biggest stage and hence, the team must have others ready to replace them if needed. The bowling seems to be more or less settled because the more these players play, the better they will get. Players like Sibrand Engelbrecht, Roelof van der Merwe and Wesley Barresi cannot continue for long and hence, the team needs to look for new talents to keep the momentum going.
being young
At the age of just 20, Dutt took 10 wickets in nine matches at an economy of 5.49. He has earned appreciation from former cricketers as this spinner has everything it takes to perform in international cricket. In the absence of Van der Merwe in the future, the Netherlands should build their spin attack around him as he has the ability to take their team to the next level.
