Delhi, March 9: Netherlands put on another disappointing show with the bat managing just 189 runs India in a Group B2011 ICC World Cup game being played in Delhi. This after the Dutch side got off to a steady start without losing a wicket for the first 50 runs off their innings.
There was much talk leading into this game regarding the exclusion of either Piyush Chawla or R Ashwin from the playing XI. But the Indians sprung a surprise on everyone by playing pacer Ashish Nehra and giving Munaf Patel a break instead. The Dutch made a couple of changes to their squad bringing in Eric Szwarczynski and Bradley Kruger in place of Bernard Loots and Berend Westdjik.
Netherlands captain Peter Borren won the toss and opted to bat first. With memories of their dismal batting against West Indies and South Africa still fresh (they were dismissed for 115 and 120 respectively), the Dutch started cautiously. Openers Eric Szwarczynski and Wesley Barresi added 50 for the first wicket but did so in 82 balls at just above 3.5 runs-per-over.
But Piyush Chawla struck in the 16th over of the Dutch innings bowling Szwarczynski (28) off a googly. 22 balls later, Barresi (26) made his way back to the pavilion after being trapped lbw by Yuvraj Singh. Wickets fell in a heap thereafter as Netherlands failed to rise to the Indian bowling challenge. From 56 for no loss the visitors crashed to a score of 151 for eight wickets in 42.2 overs.
A 38-run partnership off just 23 deliveries between Peter Borren (38 off 36) and Mudassar Bukhari (21 off 18) for the ninth wicket gave a late fillip to the Dutch innings. But the Indians would be happy to have bowled the Dutch out for 189 in 46.4 overs.
Standing out amongst the bowlers was Zaheer Khan who accounted for the wickets of Bas Zuiderent (0), Borren and Bukhari.
Brief score: Netherlands 189 all out in 46.4 overs (Peter Borren 38, Tom Cooper 29, Zaheer Khan 3/20, Piyush Chawla 2/47, Yuvraj Singh 2/43)
