The Netherlands bounced back with a solid win against Namibia after a tough loss to Pakistan. On February 10, at Arun Jaitley Stadium, they achieved victory by 7 wickets and improved their run rate.
Namibia innings: Strong middle order lifts them to 156/8
Namibia scored a competitive 156/8 after being asked to bat first. Jan Frylinck and Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton played key roles. Following an early wicket of Louren Steenkamp in the third over, Frylinck (30 off 26) and Loftie-Eaton (42 off 38) formed a crucial 50-run partnership for the second wicket, setting a new record for Namibia in Men’s T20 World Cup history.
The duo provided stability during the middle overs, with Loftie-Eaton scoring boundaries cautiously while Frylinck effectively rotated the strike. Captain Gerhard Erasmus boosted the innings with a quick 18 off 9 balls before being dismissed by Bas de Leede. JJ Smit contributed 22 off 15, but the Netherlands’ disciplined bowling kept Namibia from developing momentum.
De Leede was the standout bowler, taking 2 wickets for 20 runs. Logan van Beek (2/13) and Aryan Dutt (1/13) also kept the scoring tight. Erasmus set a record too, as he took his seventh catch in Men’s T20 World Cups, the most by any Namibian fielder.
Netherlands chase: de Leede leads successful pursuit
In response, the Netherlands easily reached the target, scoring 159/3 in 18 overs to win by seven wickets, with 12 balls left. Although Max O’Dowd was out early, Michael Levitt made a quick 28 off 15, hitting three sixes.
Bas de Leede then took charge, finishing with an unbeaten 72 off 48 balls. Colin Ackermann supported him with 32 off 28, as they added 70 runs for the third wicket, turning the game in favor of the Netherlands.
After Ackermann was out, de Leede ended the match with style, hitting a six off Loftie-Eaton in the 18th over and securing victory with a boundary at 17.6 overs. Scott Edwards remained not out on 18 off 9 balls, ensuring a smooth finish.
De Leede’s all-round performance earned him the Player of the Match award, having also taken two important wickets earlier. This victory brought the Netherlands two crucial points in Group A, while Namibia was left to regret missed opportunities despite their solid score.
