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In the ongoing ICC Cricket ODI World Cup 2023 match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, Netherlands‘ young all-rounder Bas de Leede showcased an exceptional bowling spell. The 23-year-old cricketer played a pivotal role in restricting Pakistan to 286-10 in 49 overs, earning figures of 4/62. This remarkable display of bowling skills not only made him a standout performer in the game but also etched his name in cricket history alongside his father, Tim de Leede, who was a former cricketer for the Netherlands.
Crucial moments in the match
Introduced into the bowling attack by skipper Scott Edwards during the 16th over, De Leede confronted a Pakistan side that was in the process of rebuilding their innings after losing key wickets, including those of Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam and Imam-ul-Haq, during the powerplay. At this juncture, Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan had formed a vital partnership, adding 120 runs to stabilize Pakistan’s innings.
During his initial spell, Bas focused on tightening the run flow, even though he didn’t manage to claim any wickets. However, his second spell in the 31st over proved to be game-changing. After Aryan Dutt had broken the partnership by dismissing Shakeel, Bas returned to the attack and delivered a crucial blow to Pakistan. His well-directed scrambled seam delivery breached Rizwan’s defenses, sending the wicket-keeping batter back to the pavilion.
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Turning the tide in the Netherlands’ favour
Just two balls later, Bas struck again, this time dismissing the hard-hitting Iftikhar Ahmed, who edged the ball to skipper Scott Edwards. These quick wickets derailed Pakistan’s progress, and it seemed like they might struggle to cross the 300-run mark.
Despite a spirited stand between Pakistan’s Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz, Bas had other plans. With remarkable precision and control, he secured two crucial wickets in as many deliveries. First, he removed Shadab, followed by the dismissal of Hasan Ali, leaving Pakistan in a precarious position.
Bas de Leede creates a unique record alongside his father Tim
Bas de Leede became only the fourth Dutchman to take four wickets in an innings in an ODI World Cup match and joined his father Tim, whose four for 35 against India at the 2003 ODI World Cup are the best bowling figures by a Dutch cricketer at the CWC. This marks the first instance of a father-son duo picking the same number of wickets in a World Cup game.
Tim claimed the prized scalps of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer Khan, playing a significant role in restricting India to a mere 206 runs. Nevertheless, despite this remarkable performance, the Dutch team was eventually bowled out for 136 runs, thanks to four-wicket hauls by Javagal Srinath and Anil Kumble.
