T20 World Cup, Zimbabwe vs Netherlands: Netherlands claim first Super 12 win, beat Zimbabwe by 5 wickets | Cricket News

ADELAIDE: In-form opener Max O’Dowd hit a fine half-century after a clinical performance by the pace bowlers as Netherlands beat Zimbabwe by five wickets for their first win of the ongoing T20 World Cup Wednesday here.
Netherlands chased down the small target of 118 with two overs to spare with O’Dowd hitting 52 off 47 balls to reach 120 for 5 to collect their first points – two – although they are already out of the tournament.
Zimbabwe is also virtually out of the tournament after Wednesday’s defeat.

Paul van Meekeren (3/29) led the Dutch’s disciplined bowling performance after Zimbabwe elected to bat, while Brandon Glover, Logan van Beek and Bas de Leede also returned with two wickets each to bowl out the African team for 117 in 19.2 overs .
In their must-win game, Sikandar Raza was the only bright spot for Zimbabwe in an otherwise sloppy batting display by the team as the star all-rounder smashed a 24-ball 40 (3×4, 3×6) to take them past the 100-run mark to take. mark.
But the target of 118 was well short of par as the Dutch romped home in 18 overs on their way to their first win of the Super-12 stage.
The ‘Orange Army’ will face South Africa in their final match on Sunday.
Zimbabwe, who had a stunning victory over Pakistan earlier in the tournament, will face India in their final match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday.

The Netherlands came up with a solid and steady start with the long-haired O’Dowd steering their ship.
At the halfway mark they were 67/1 when O’Dowd held the innings brilliantly together.
O’Dowd began to break free and took on Luke Jongwe with two boundaries in succession to complete his 11th fifty, and fourth in a World Cup tournament.
At nine runs from 30 balls, victory was delayed as the Netherlands committed some harakiri near the finish line and lost O’Dowd and captain Scott Edwards (5) in the space of nine balls.
In the end, de Leede hit two boundaries in his run-a-ball 12 not out to secure victory.
Earlier, Zimbabwe’s batsmen, excluding Raza, showed a complete lack of application.
Only two Zimbabwean batsmen reached double figures and they consumed 66 balls, summing up their fate in their must-win game.
Wickets kept falling for Raza as he looked like he was batting for a different team, with utmost control and confidence.
Pacer Brandon Glover (4-1-29-2) let the Zimbabwean batsmen down early by withdrawing swing from the Adelaide Oval when he was given a double hit inside the Powerplay by skipper Craig Ervine (3) and Regis Chakbva (5) in succession. overs.
The top three Wessly Madhevere (1), Ervine (3) and Chakabva (5) could not get going and scored 20 runs in Powerplay.
Raza got off on 20/3 and immediately got down to business with his spin shots to attack the Dutch bowlers.
He halved the field at ease with his elegant drives and looked in total control in a fine partnership of 48 runs from 35 balls with Sean Williams.
Just when Zimbabwe were trying to build a partnership and regain some momentum, Van Meekeren caused another collapse by dismissing Williams (28 from 23 balls).
Van Meekeren (4-0-29-3) was the top wicket-taker for the Dutch pace attack which showed a disciplined approach with Logan van Beek (2.2-0-17-2) and Bas de Leede (4-0 -). 14-2) who also return with two wickets each.
De Leede took the coveted scalp of Raza, which looked to tear apart the Dutch attack as the batsman mistimed a good length ball.
Fred Klaassen, who returned with 1/17, took a well-judged running catch at the boundary to end Raza’s entertainment.