ICC Cricket World Cup, 2023 |Match 40 |11/8/2023 Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune
Commentary
Right then, that is it from this game where England registers a huge win while Netherlands slips further down. The action now moves to Bengaluru where New Zealand takes on Sri Lanka with qualification to the knockouts on the line. That game will begin be played on 9th November, Thursday at 2 pm IST (8.30 am GMT), but as you know, you can join us early for all the build-up to the match. Until then, cheers and goodbye!
Jos Buttler, the victorious skipper of England says that it was a great performance and they were desperate for the win. Mentions that it was a great start from Dawid Malan and the partnership between Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes was fantastic. On Stokes, he says that he is always there to stand up when they need someone to do that. Mentions that 339 was a really good score. Shares that the toss is an interesting aspect of the World Cup but feels that they have not done well even after winning the toss. On Woakes, he says that he is a skillful cricketer and sets the tone with the ball along with David Willey. On the game against Pakistan, he says that it is a huge game in what has been a disappointing tournament. Adds that they will prepare well and are looking forward to it.
Scott Edwards, the captain of Netherlands says that it is obviously a disappointing performance. Adds that they didn't start well with the ball but were able to pull things back in the middle overs but then let them get away with it at the death. Tells that is the same old story with the bat as the wicket was a good one and credits England for their batting. Mentions that it is about balance when chasing as you need to score quick runs in the Powerplay while also needing wickets in the middle. Says that they have been good in patches but they will need to do it for longer periods. Ends by saying that it will be an amazing atmosphere against India in Bengaluru and they are looking forward to it.
Ben Stokes is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his brilliant hundred. He says that he is more pleased to get the win than his knock. Adds that it has been a tough World Cup for them and it is nice to get back up. Shares that it was a typical Pune surface but felt that the balls bowled on a back of a length had tennis ball bounce. States he looked up to the scoreboard whenever he felt pressure and it certainly helped. On Chris Woakes, he says that he is a pretty experienced cricketer and a genuine all-rounder. Further adds that he showed tonight how great a cricketer he has been for the past two years. On whether he thought about going home for his knee surgery, he says that he does not want to leave his team hanging.
Presentation Time...
Earlier in the game, after electing to bat first, England posted a big total on the board courtesy of a nice half-century from Dawid Malan at the start but the main credit goes to an exceptional hundred from Ben Stokes who took his team out of trouble after struggling in the middle overs. He was also well supported by Chris Woakes who registered a fine fifty as well. Bas de Leede was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets while Aryan Dutt and Logan van Beek picked up a couple each. Paul van Meekeren chipped in with one too. While chasing, Netherlands did show some fight with a couple of good partnerships but they needed a lot more than that and the target proved to be too much for them in the end.
England, on the other hand, were all over the Dutch with Chris Woakes and David Willey both making the ball talk and moving it both ways and the batters had no answers to it. Both of them picked up a wicket and set the tone for them. They allowed a stand to build but a miscommunication between the batters gave them the opportunity to break it and they took with both hands. Adil Rashid then got another breakthrough in the middle overs to put their opponents further on the back foot. They also dropped a few chances but that didn't cost them much. Once Moeen Ali got rid off the Netherlands skipper which was also his first wicket in this World Cup, they were able to gain full control of the game. Ali and Rashid shared six wickets equally and absolutely ran through the lower order of the Dutch to confirm the win.
Netherlands got off to a very sluggish start as they found it hard to score runs against some quality pace bowling from England and lost a couple of wickets early on. Wesley Barresi struggled initially but he along with Sybrand Engelbrecht steadied the ship for a bit with a 55-run stand before the former lost his wicket due to a mix-up in the middle which was also their 10th run out in this World Cup which is an unwanted record for them. Their skipper, Scott Edwards came in after that but even before he could settle in, Sybrand was dismissed trying to up the ante. Then Teja Nidamanuru joined his captain and both of them slowly started to change gears and found the boundaries while also rotating the strike well with good running between the wickets. However, as the required rate was creeping up, Edwards failed to execute his big shot and lost his wicket and after that, the lower order fell like nine pins. Teja Nidamanuru remained unbeaten on 41 but they faced a massive defeat which now threatens their qualification chances for the Champions Trophy.
England finally win another game in this World Cup! This is only their second victory of the tournament and they completely outplayed Netherlands here to get a comprehensive win by 160 runs. These are also two important points to keep them in contention for direct qualification to the Champions Trophy 2025.
37.2
W
Moeen Ali to Paul van Meekeren, OUT! STUMPED! All over for Netherlands! A thumping win for England! Moeen Ali sees the batter advance and bowls it flatter and quicker, outside off, Paul van Meekeren advances but fails to get behind the line as he looked to go back over the bowler's head. The ball keeps straight and beats him all ends up. Jos Buttler takes his time and disturbs the woodwork on the second attempt. Moeen Ali finishes with three wickets and England win by 160 runs!
37.1
1
Moeen Ali to Teja Nidamanuru, Drops it short, on off, Teja Nidamanuru shuffles and clips it off the back foot to deep square leg for a single.
END OF OVER 37 | 9 Runs & 1 Wkt | NED 178/9
36.6
0
Adil Rashid to Paul van Meekeren, Slows it up this time, full and outside off, Paul van Meekeren goes for a swipe across the line again but gets deceived in the flight as the ball spins past his outside edge.
36.5
4
Adil Rashid to Paul van Meekeren, FOUR! Nicely swept! Adil Rashid loops it up, full and turning away, outside off, Paul van Meekeren shuffles a bit and goes for the sweep straight away. He rolls his wrists to ride on top of the bounce and hits it behind square on the leg side for a boundary.
Paul van Meekeren is the last man in.
36.4
W
Adil Rashid to Aryan Dutt, OUT! CASTLED! Another fine googly from Adil Rashid does the trick! He floats this up, full and around off, turns in sharply, Aryan Dutt prods forward to defend but plays down the wrong line and the ball goes through the gap between bat and pad to rattle the stumps. England one wicket away from the win now!
36.3
0
Adil Rashid to Aryan Dutt, A googly now, short and on middle, turns in, Aryan Dutt stays back to play at it but misses as the ball loops up off his pads to first slip where Joe Root collects it.
36.2
1
Adil Rashid to Teja Nidamanuru, Another short delivery, on middle, Teja Nidamanuru flicks it off the back foot through mid-wicket for one.
36.1
4
Adil Rashid to Teja Nidamanuru, FOUR! Fine shot! Adil Rashid drags his length back and on middle, Teja Nidamanuru once again moves on his back foot and smacks it past mid-wicket for a boundary.
END OF OVER 36 | 3 Runs & 1 Wkt | NED 169/8
35.6
1
Moeen Ali to Teja Nidamanuru, Short again from Ali, on middle, Teja Nidamanuru moves back and nudges it through mid-wicket for one.
35.5
1
Moeen Ali to Aryan Dutt, Short and around off, Aryan Dutt punches it wide of mid off for a single.
Aryan Dutt is the next batter in for Netherlands.
35.4
W
Moeen Ali to Roelof van der Merwe, OUT! CAUGHT! Another one bites the dust! Another Dutch batter departs while trying the sweep! Moeen Ali gives the ball air and bowls it around off, Roelof van der Merwe moves leg side initially and gives himself room to play the reverse sweep. The ball spins in and he is too late to swing his bat. He gets this one off the splice of the bat and lobs towards short third man where Adil Rashid reverse cups it with ease. Moeen Ali has his second wicket.
35.3
0
Moeen Ali to Roelof van der Merwe, Fires it in, turning down leg, Roelof van der Merwe uses his feet to push it away and gets pinged on the pads. Not much of an appeal as the ball was going down leg.