Ben Stokes delivered a powerful century, and England secured a commanding 160-run victory over the Netherlands on Wednesday, keeping their hopes alive for a spot in the 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan.
Although both England and the Netherlands were already out of contention for the semifinals, their clash gained significance in the race to qualify for the prestigious Champions Trophy. Only the top seven teams from the ongoing tournament would earn that privilege.
In a remarkable turnaround, England's batting lineup finally clicked, posting a formidable 339 for 9. The bowlers then took charge, dismissing the Netherlands for 179 in just 37.2 overs. This resounding win propelled England to the seventh position in the points table, thanks to their superior run rate. Their final test will be against Pakistan in Kolkata on Saturday.
Opting to bat first, Ben Stokes (108 off 83) provided the necessary stability in the middle order before exploding with aggression towards the end of his innings. David Malan (87 off 74) got England off to a flying start, with a breezy knock that included 10 boundaries and two sixes, propelling the team to 339/9. Stokes hit six fours and as many sixes, while Chris Woakes also contributed with a valuable 51 off 45 balls.
Facing a daunting target of 340, the Netherlands lost their first wicket in the fifth over when Max O'Dowd gave a straightforward catch to Moeen Ali at mid-on off Chris Woakes' delivery. In the very next over, Colin Ackermann nicked a David Willey delivery to Jos Buttler behind the stumps. Wesley Barresi (37) and Sybrand Engelbrecht (33) tried to stabilize the chase with a 55-run partnership for the third wicket, but Barresi was run out, and Engelbrecht was caught by Woakes at mid-on. Bas de Leede fell victim to an Adil Rashid delivery, playing onto his stumps.
Teja Nidamanuru (41 not out off 34) was given a lifeline when Willey dropped a catch at mid-on off Atkinson's bowling in the 27th over. Nidamanuru made the most of it, smashing Adil Rashid and Atkinson for two massive sixes in consecutive overs. Netherlands skipper Scott Edwards and Nidamanuru then contributed 59 runs for the sixth wicket before Edwards gave a straightforward catch to Willey at mid-off off Moeen Ali's bowling. The Netherlands' wickets continued to tumble, and they were eventually bowled out for 179 in 37.2 overs.
Before the innings, David Malan showcased his attacking prowess by hitting consecutive boundaries in the second over, flicking and driving Logan van Beek. He continued his onslaught against spinner Aryan Dutt, hitting him through the covers and gully for two more boundaries in the next over. England's boundaries came quickly, and Malan reached his fifty in just 37 balls with the help of 10 fours.
Malan and Joe Root then played cautiously to build the innings before Malan smashed two sixes to take England to 70 for one in 10 overs. However, two wickets in consecutive overs slowed England's progress. First, Root was bowled out by van Beek in the 21st over, attempting a reverse scoop. In the next over, Malan was run out, and England's score was 139/3 in 22 overs. Harry Brook's innings was short-lived as he was caught by Colin Ackermann off Bas de Leede's delivery. England's skipper Jos Buttler also struggled and was caught at mid-off by Teja Nidamanuru off van Meekeren's delivery.
But Ben Stokes displayed his ominous form as he settled down before unleashing his raw power towards the end, punishing the Dutch bowlers with relentless aggression. Although the Dutch spinners briefly halted England's momentum in the middle overs, Stokes and Woakes shared a remarkable 129-run partnership for the seventh wicket, propelling England beyond the 300-run mark.
Brief Score:
England: 339 for 9 in 50 overs (Ben Stokes 108; Bas de Leede 3/74, Aryan Dutt 2/67)
Netherlands: 179 allout in 37.2 overs (Teja Nidamanuru 41 not out; Adil Rashid 3/54, Moeen Ali 3/42)
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