Dutch hammered back to earth
As heroic as the Netherlands' entry into the Super 10s was, their start in the elite club turned out to be a huge anticlimax. Records tumbled at the Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium yesterday as the Dutch were bundled out for the lowest ever score in the history of T20I. They were bowled out for 39 runs in 10.3 overs -- also the lowest number of balls that a team has faced in a T20I.
In reply, Sri Lanka, who lived up to their expectations of thumping minnows, raced to victory with nine wickets and 15 overs remaining.
After being asked bat, the Dutch, who stormed into the super 10s with a fairytale win over Ireland, seemed clueless against the likes of Lasith Malinga, Angelo Mathews and Ajantha Mendis.
Nuwan Kulasakera, who finished with figure of one for zero after two, started the damage by getting Stephan Myburgh out in the first over. Mathews came in next and removed Michael Swart and Wesley Barresi in consecutive deliveries.
At the end of the second over they were stuttering at one for the loss of three wickets. Tom Cooper and Peter Borren added eight runs for the fourth wicket before they were sent back by the ninth over.
The Dutch, who seemed to have had no idea regarding the wickets and the bowlers, eventually caved in the eleventh over, which saw Mendis remove Pieter Seelaar. Mendis and Mathews finished with three wickets each, while Malinga took two.
Kusal Perera was Netherlands' only scalp and he was removed in the second over by Ahsan Malik. Mahela Jayawardene was dropped at mid-on once during the chase, but he rectified that to finish the game with two boundaries.
Comments