Brilliant Bas de Leede scores ton, takes five-for to ensure Netherlands' entry into ICC World Cup
The Hindu
This is the fifth time that the Netherlands have qualified for the 50-over global event
An inspirational Netherlands scripted an incredible come-from-behind fairytale, riding on all-rounder Bas de Leede's individual brilliance as they beat Scotland by four wickets to join Sri Lanka as the second qualifying team for the ICC World Cup in India, starting October 5.
Needing 278 inside 44 overs to qualify, De Leede's power-packed 123 off 92 balls with help of seven fours and five sixes and his 113-run sixth-wicket stand in just 11.3 overs with Saqib Zulfiqar (33 not out) helped Netherlands to qualify in just 42.5 overs.
This is the fifth time that the Netherlands have qualified for the 50-over global event, having played in the 1996, 2003, 2007 and 2011 editions.
"Little bit lost for words. I thought what Bas de Leede and Saqib Zulfiqar did in the last 10 overs was unbelievable to watch," an emotional Netherlands skipper Scott Edwards said after the match.
"This group is just incredible. We put in the hard work and the guys just enjoy everyone's success. We had a different match-winner in every game. It's a pretty awesome feeling. It was just unbelievable batting by Leede and Saqib in the end," the skipper added.
Call it a coincidence, Bas's father Tim de Leede was an important member of the Netherlands team during the first three of those world tournaments.
Even though Scotland (+0.102) and Zimbabwe (-0.099) also finished with six points, Netherlands, by virtue of this win, leapfrogged them to reach a net run-rate of +0.230.
Asian Games champion Avinash Sable opened his season in the 3000m steeple chase with a silver in the Portland Track Festival, a World Athletics Continental Tour bronze event, in Oregon on Saturday. He clocked 8:21.85s. Asian champion Parul Chaudhary took the bronze in the women’s 3000m steeple chase in a season-best 9:31.38s. Former Asian bronze medallist Sanjivani Jadhav struck gold in the women’s 10,000m in 32:22.77s, a time which was a second off her personal best, while Seema was sixth in 32:55.91s.