Colombo, Feb 26: Netherlands crashed to a 215-run defeat against West Indies in a Group B encounter of the 2011 ICC World Cup at Delhi today. The match played at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium was a day/night affair. The highlight of the otherwise predictable game was West Indies pacer Kemar Roach’s hat-trick, the sixth such feat by a bowler in a World Cup encounter.
West Indies were put in to bat after Netherlands captain Peter Borren won the toss and opted to field first. Chris Gayle, opening the West Indies innings, set the foundation for a big score with his knock of 80 runs. Opener Devon Smith (53 off 51) and Ramnaresh Sarwan (49) played adequate supporting roles. However, it was IPL star Kieron Pollard who gave the West Indies innings a late fillip by blasting his way to 60 off just 27 deliveries. Pollard’s whirlwind knock included five fours and four sixes. Thanks to the Pollard show West Indies finished their innings at 330 for eight in 50 overs.
In response, the Dutch batting collapsed in a heap. Caribbean pacer Kemar Roach took six wickets – including a hat-trick - while left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn took three wickets to help dismiss Netherlands for a mere 115 runs. Dutch No. 3 batsman Tom Cooper remained unbeaten on 55.
This was West Indies’ first win of the tournament - they now move to third place in Group B behind India and England.
Brief scores: West Indies 330/8 in 50 overs (Chris Gayle 80, Kieron Pollard 60, Devon Smith 53, Pieter Seelaar 3/45) beat Netherlands 115 all out in 31.3 overs (Tom Cooper 55*, Kemar Roach 6/27, Sulieman Benn 3/28) by 215 runs
Man-of-the-Match: Kemar Roach for his six-wicket haul, including a hat-trick that destroyed Netherlands’ chances of pulling off the run chase.
