Lucknow, Nov 3: Winning the toss and electing to bat first in a tricky Ekana Stadium track, here on Friday, the Netherlands were 170/9 in 42.3 overs against Afghanistan.
In the 34th match of the ICC ODI Men's World Cup, the Dutch lost both their openers Wesley Barresi (1 in 4 balls) and Max O'Dowd (40 in 42 balls).
Barresi was the first to fall, as he was adjudged LBW to spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman in the 5th ball of the match. An elated Mujeeb celebrated his 100th ODI wicket.
Then, there was a steady 70-run partnership between O'Dowd and Collin Ackerman till the 11.3 overs. But a direct throw by alert Azmatullah Omarzai sent back O'Dowd, an unexpected end to his fine innings.
Colin Ackermann too was run out with a timely return by Rashid Khan and keeper Ikram Alikhil completed the formalities. Ackermann made 29 in 35 balls, with four clean his to the fence.
Skipper and backbone of Netherland batting Scott Edwards too was run out by wicketkeeper Ikram Alikhil in the very first ball he faced.
Bas de Leede edged a Mujeeb Ur Rahman delivery only to return to pavilion contributing on 3 runs in 6 balls.Keeper Alikhil pouched the catch. In just 20.2 overs, the Dutch were reduced to 97/5.
Keeper Alikhil had more joys behind the stumps as he grabbed a catch by Saqib Zulifiqar, who helplessly edged a spinner Noor Ahmad delivery. The Dutch were reeling at 113/6in just 25.3 overs.
Logan van Beek was stumped by keeper Alikhil of Mohammad Nabi. His 13-ball struggle at the crease ended as he departed for just 3. The Netherlands were in real misery with 134/7 in 31 overs.
Sybrand Engelbrecht, the lone ranger in Duth innings, was run out too after making 58 in 86 balls. Alikhil with Nabi had a joint effort in sending him back.
Afghanistan XI:
Hashmatullah Shahidi (Captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhil (wicket-keeper), Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad and Fazalhaq Farooqi.
Netherlands XI:
Scott Edwards (Captain and wicket-keeper), Wesley Barresi, Max O'Dowd, Colin Ackermann, Sybrand Engelbrecht, Bas de Leede, Saqib Zulfiqar, Logan van Beek, Roelof van der Merwe, Aryan Dutt and Paul van Meekeren.
