The Netherlands registered a commanding seven-wicket victory over Namibia to secure their first win of the T20 World Cup, with Bas de Leede delivering a complete all-round performance at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium on Tuesday.
After opting to bowl first, the Dutch bowlers showed discipline and control to restrict Namibia to 156 for 8.
De Leede played a key role with the ball, picking up two important wickets and applying pressure through his pace bowling in the middle overs.
Logan van Beek was equally effective, returning figures of 2 for 13 in his three overs, as Namibia struggled to build sustained momentum.
Namibia made a steady start but lost wickets at regular intervals. Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton top-scored with 42 off 38 balls, while Jan Frylinck contributed 30 and JJ Smit added 22.
Captain Gerhard Erasmus attempted to accelerate with an 18-run cameo but could not push his side beyond a competitive total.
Chasing 157, the Netherlands lost opener Max O’Dowd early, putting pressure on the middle order. However, De Leede steadied the innings with a crucial 70-run third-wicket partnership alongside Colin Ackermann, who scored a valuable 32.
The stand ensured the chase remained on track and took the game away from Namibia.
De Leede remained unbeaten on 72 off 48 balls, striking five fours and four sixes. His calm approach and shot selection helped the Netherlands reach the target with 12 balls to spare.
Skipper Scott Edwards stayed with him till the end, finishing on 18 not out.
The victory marked the Netherlands’ biggest win by wickets at a T20 World Cup and also saw De Leede create history by becoming the first Dutch player to score a half-century and take two wickets in the same T20 World Cup match.
Reflecting on the performance, De Leede said bowling first helped the team assess the pitch conditions early and adapt effectively as a unit.
Edwards praised the all-round effort, highlighting the team’s strong response after a narrow defeat to Pakistan in their opening Group A match.
The Netherlands will next face the United States, while Namibia prepares for a challenging clash against defending champions India at the same venue.
