Zimbabwe: West Indies lost one of the most amazing ODI games ever played against Netherlands in Harare in a crazy, Super Over conclusion, putting their chances of qualifying for the Cricket World Cup in jeopardy.
With a team high score of 315 entering the game and a winning score requirement of 375, Netherlands appeared to be out of the contest. When Teja Nidamanuru scored a magnificent hundred, it kept them in the game, but when he was killed, their dreams vanished once more. Spectacular events then transpired. Batting at No. 8, Logan van Beek hammered 28 off 14 before falling when a single was required off the final ball. As the game approached a Super Over, Netherlands made the brilliant decision to send him out once more. He scored 30 off Jason Holder's six balls while in excellent form, and then he took 2-8 to secure an amazing victory.
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Going back to the beginning of the game, West Indies entered it devastated from their loss to Zimbabwe and in desperate need of a victory—and not just any victory—to restart their Cricket World Cup Qualifying campaign. With a century opening stand from Johnson Charles and Brandon King, Shai Hope's 38-ball 47 in the number four spot, and Keemo Paul's 46 off 25 at the end, their batsmen set the stage perfectly. However, Nicholas Pooran stole the show with a blistering 63-ball hundred, bringing up the landmark in the last over.
The top four batsmen for Netherlands made starts in response, but as wickets fell often, West Indies was far ahead. The Netherlands scored 71-0 while on the power play, but Max O'Dowd was soon lost. Following Vikramjit Singh's collapse, Bas de Leede and Wesley Barresi decided to reorganize. However, Netherlands were still more than 200 runs away from their mark when the first one was bowled in the 30th over.
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After that, Nidamanuru and Scott Edwards pulled off a miraculous comeback, adding 143 runs for the fifth wicket in just 15 overs, bringing the Netherlands back into the match. Nidamanuru's acceleration was notable, turning a 50-run partnership in 40 balls into a century in 68 balls. This was his second incredible performance of the year, the first being his first ODI century, which he scored against Zimbabwe in a last-ball chase to secure a victory in March.
But this time, it appeared that winning might be going too far. In the 46th over, he and Saqib Zulfiqar both lost their wickets, sending Netherlands back into the game's chase. They required 42 runs with three overs remaining. They scrambled eight from the remaining over after Aryan Dutt's four, but 30 from two seemed impossible to attain. The van Beek show then took over. To regain control of the game, he crushed 14 in three Roston Chase balls. The final ball of the over was subsequently hammered for four by Dutt.
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As soon as further protection was provided by van Beek, the nine needed off the last became five from five. The game then got more competitive. Holland made a single. Dutt made a long-off cut. No.10 Despite having a groyne injury, Clayton Floyd managed to race to a bye. Van Beek briefly ran back; the umpire review was necessary to determine that there was no short run. Jason Holder flew, holding onto a stunning throw at mid-on, when a single was needed from the last. An umpire review occurred once more, but this time it was for a front-foot no ball. Once more, it was deemed to be just and legal.
A Super Over was used for the competition as a result of the rulebook confusion that ensued. Would Netherlands allow Nidamanuru to go on strike after just scoring a century? Or one of the starters who had launched them to success? They didn't; van Beek, who had a top ODI score of 32, was sent out. Holder, who had rejected him on the pitch in due course, would be in front of him.
Van Beek went four, six, four, six, six, and it was a brilliant move. West Indies couldn't believe it. Although Netherlands were in a state of dream, the ball still needed to be handled. Who better to carry it out than van Beek? After hitting the first ball for six, he recovered to give up two singles, take two wickets, and complete the victory in style.
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