T20 World Cup, Zimbabwe vs Netherlands: Netherlands secure first Super 12 win, beat Zimbabwe by 5 wickets | Cricket News

ADELAIDE: In-form fly-half Max O’Dowd slammed a fine half-century after a clinical display from pace bowlers as the Netherlands beat Zimbabwe by five wickets for their first victory of the current run T20 World Cup here Wednesday.
The Netherlands chased the small target of 118 with two overs to spare with O’Dowd hitting 52 from 47 balls, going 120 for 5 to collect their first points – two – despite already being out of the tournament.
Zimbabwe are also virtually absent from the tournament after Wednesday’s loss.

Paul van Meekeren (3/29) led the Dutch’s disciplined bowling show after Zimbabwe opted to play batting, while Brandon Glover, Logan van Beek and Bas de Leede also came back with two wickets apiece to eliminate the African side for 117 in 19.2 overs.
In their must-win match, Sikandar Raza was Zimbabwe’s only bright spot in an otherwise sloppy batting display by the team as the all-around star broke a 40 on 24 balls (3×4, 3×6) to take them past 100 runs . Mark.
But the target of 118 proved well short of par as the Dutch went home in 18 overs en route to their first victory of the Super-12 stage.
The ‘Orange Army’ will face South Africa in their last game on Sunday.
Zimbabwe, who picked up a stunning win over Pakistan earlier in the tournament, will next face tournament favorites India in their final game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday.

Holland got off to a solid and steady start with the long-haired O’Dowd steering their ship.
At the halfway mark they were 67/1 as O’Dowd brilliantly held the sets together.
O’Dowd started to pull away and faced Luke Jongwe with two straight limits to finish his 11th fifty-fourth in a World Cup.
Needing nine runs from 30 balls, victory was delayed as the Netherlands committed a bit of harakiri near the finish line, losing O’Dowd and skipper Scott Edwards (5) in the space of nine balls .
In the end, de Leede slammed two boundaries in his 12-not-out run-a-ball to seal the victory.
Earlier, Zimbabwe’s batters except Raza showed a complete lack of application.
Only two Zimbabwean batters hit double digits and they consumed 66 run balls, summing up their fate in their must-win game.
The wickets continued to roll in around Raza as he looked like a batsman for a different team, with supreme control and confidence.
Pacer Brandon Glover (4-1-29-2) troubled the Zimbabwe batters early on, extracting the Adelaide Oval swing as he doubled inside the Powerplay by dismissing the skipper Craig Ervine (3) and Regis Chakbva (5) in succession overs.
Top three Wessly Madhevere (1), Ervine (3) and Chakabva (5) failed to start and managed 20 points in Powerplay.
Shocked at 20/3, Raza immediately snapped his pivoting shots to counterattack the Dutch bowlers.
He crossed the field at ease with his sleek drives and looked in complete control in a handsome 48-on-35 partnership with Sean Williams.
Just as Zimbabwe were trying to build a partnership and regain some momentum, Van Meekeren sparked yet another meltdown by dismissing Williams (28 from 23 balls).
Van Meekeren (4-0-29-3) was the top wicket-taker for the Dutch speed attack which showed a disciplined approach with Logan van Beek (2.2-0-17-2) and Bas de Leede (4-0-14-2) also returning with two wickets each.
De Leede took the precious scalp from Raza who looked to tear up the Dutch attack as the batter mistimed a good length ball.
Fred Klaassen, who came back with 1/17, took a well-judged running hold to the limit to end Raza’s entertainment.