(CMC) – An unbeaten 54 from Max O’Dowd led a successful run chase for the Netherlands as they opened the ICC Men’s Twenty20 World Cup with a six-wicket win in a low-scoring contest against Nepal yesterday in the United States.
O’Dowd smacked four fours and one six from 48 balls and anchored the Dutch chase of 107 to clip the wings of their fellow ICC associate team in their Group D contest at the Grand Prairie Stadium in the American city of Dallas in the state of Texas.
After losing opener Michael Levitt for one in the second over, O’Dowd and Vikramjit Singh carried the Netherlands to 36 for one at the close of the powerplay, and they shared a second wicket stand of 40 to settle the nerves.
Singh was lbw to Dipendra Singh Airee in the ninth over, but O’Dowd kept his cool and guided the Dutch the rest of the way to claim two points.
Earlier, rain delayed the toss by half an hour, prompting fears of a reduced contest in front of a big crowd – but the weather cleared, and the Netherlands put Nepal in to bat.
Only the Nepalese captain Rohit Paudel came to terms with the Dutch bowling, scoring 35 from 37 balls, and the Asian side were dismissed for 106 in 19.2 overs.
Logan van Beek was the pick of the Netherlands bowlers, taking three for 18 from 3.2 overs, and Tim Pringle finished with three for 20 from his four overs, while Paul van Meekeren and Bas de Leede grabbed two wickets apiece.
Group D continues on Friday when Bangladesh play Sri Lanka at Grand Prairie, while the Dutch face South Africa on Saturday at the Nassau County Stadium in the American town of East Meadow in the state of New York, and Nepal face the Sri Lankans next Tuesday at the Central Broward Regional Park in the American city of Lauderhill in the state of Florida.
