Ahmedabad :India beat Netherlands by 17 runs in their final Twenty20 World Cup Group A match in Ahmedabad on Wednesday, maintaining their unbeaten record ahead of the Super Eight stage.
After winning the toss and choosing to bat, India posted 193-6 on a sluggish surface, powered by Shivam Dube’s blistering 66 off 31 balls. Logan van Beek was the pick of the Dutch bowlers with 3-56.
The Netherlands replied with 176-7. Varun Chakravarthy claimed 3-14 and narrowly missed out on a hat-trick, while Dube also chipped in with two wickets to earn the player of the match award.
“I try to hit boundaries. I enjoy hitting sixes, but the situation demands (if) the bowler is good, I have to be prepared,” Dube said of his career-best knock. “The captain and coach told me to keep the strike rate high in the middle overs, but it depends on the situation.”
Third straight duck for Sharma
India endured a nightmare start when opener Abhishek Sharma — the world’s top-ranked batter — was bowled for a third consecutive duck by spinner Aryan Dutt in the opening over.
Ishan Kishan (18) followed in bizarre fashion, attempting a pull shot only for the ball to deflect off his arm onto the stumps. Tilak Varma made 31 before being dismissed by a diving catch from 41-year-old Roelof van der Merwe, and Suryakumar Yadav’s 34 left the hosts wobbling at 110-4.
Dube then counter-attacked with four fours and six sixes, while Hardik Pandya added a brisk 30 at the death to lift India to a competitive total.
“The way he batted in the middle overs took pressure off everyone. Getting to 190 on this wicket was a very good score,” captain Yadav said.
Sluggish Dutch chase
The Netherlands began cautiously as India built pressure with dot balls. Chakravarthy struck in the powerplay, bowling Max O’Dowd, before Pandya removed Michael Levitt.
Chakravarthy was on a hat-trick after dismissing Colin Ackermann and Dutt in successive deliveries, and Dube removed Bas de Leede for 33 to leave the Dutch struggling at 112-5.
Although the Netherlands plundered 51 runs in the final four overs and benefited from dropped chances, they fell short, ending their campaign with one win and three defeats while India advanced with a flawless group-stage record.
