And Netherlands join Zimbabwe and WI in the Super Sixes from Group A. What a dominating win this has been. The winning runs hit by Nidamanaru with a pull over midwicket for four. But they took the requisite single before the ball touched the rope
Nepal vs Netherlands, 14th Match, Group A at Harare, CWC Qualifier, Jun 24 2023 - Ball by Ball Commentary
That's all from our coverage. Congratulations to Netherlands and chin up, Nepal! On behalf of K Vairavan and Ekanth, this is Sreshth Shah bidding goodbye.
2.51pm Nepal captain Paudel: "We were short in runs. We knew the wicket will be challenging in the morning. We applied ourselves but we couldn't capitalise on the starts, including me. Having said that, you can't expect your lower-middle order steps up everytime. (Short-ball tactic) We had a plan but we couldn't execute. We need to learn and go back home and see how we can improve in that area."
Netherlands captain Edwards: (Commanding win?) This was the first hurdle for us. We played really well. We'll look through this and move on to the West Indies game in a couple of days. (Van Beek and O'Dowd) Logan has been awesome for us through the tourmament. Our whole unit bowled well today. Maxi was... [inaudible.]. Our plan moving on will be similar to this. Our brand of cricket is working. We'll come up with some plans. If we bring our best, we'll do well on Monday."
2.46pm Reactions coming up. And here's Max O'Dowd - the Player of the Match: "Disappointed not scoring the hundred but for me I just want to contribute to match-winning knocks. 90 in a winning cause is enough. (Chasing small score....tentativeness can come?) If we look at last game, we didn't get in our space, so today it was about being positive and taking spin on. It was to take it to them. I didn't want to let the middle order to get in and the game get tricky. (Sweep shot) You've got to ask Scott Edwards, not me! I do sweeping lessons with him. For me, it is to get my head as close to the line. Scott taught me how to sweep for two months before this."
2.40pm A one-sided affair in the end. The pitch looked tricky in the morning, and then also through the middle-overs in the first-innings. But it posed no challenge for Max O'Dowd who motored along even when his opening partner Vikramjit Singh struggled early on.
Don't forget the bowling effort either. Van Beek took four, de Leede and Singh picked up a couple, and the spin pair of Dutt and Floyd were excellent.
For Nepal, a disappointing end to the dream of playing the 2023 ODI World Cup. Their campaign ends with a 1-3 scorecard. Batting let them down today, leaving very little for their bowlers to do in Harare.
good length ball around off. Tapped towards the off side. de Leede wants one but the non-striker turns it down
back of a length on middle. Swivels and hooks it towards deep square leg. Fine leg can't get there! Scores are tied
fullish on off, and glanced to mid on
Praveen: "Max with his own Sandstorm special. Good innings this."
straight down the ground past the bowler. One of the best looking shots in cricket. Beats mid off with that drive
length ball, tapped to the off side for a quick single
a scintillating innings without the fairytale end. Fullish ball around off and moving into him while also staying a tad low. Tries to fend, but the ball goes past his edge and crashes into off stump.
dropped! And four more for de Leede. Short and wide, he slashed hard at it, took an edge to the keeper, but the ball burst through
low full toss on middle. Flicked to fine leg for two more... eating into O'Dowd's century opportunity!
The sightscreen cloth is absolutely in tatters at the ground due to the wind. Can be distracting for the batters. And now there's a sandstorm too. Darude fans, anyone?
short and wide outside off. Left alone. But wide called
full ball just outside off stump. Fended and 'nooo', the call
Stat alert: This is Max's highest ODI score
full ball on middle, skidding into his pads. Manages to bat-pad a flick towards the leg side. Into the nineties
fullish ball outside off. Mows a shot through to deep midwicket and calls for two
length ball pulled to midwicket, but mistimed totally
ShahSafeer: "Come on, de Leede let O'Dowd score his well deserved century! "
fullish ball justoutside off. Defended. 2-60 in ten overs
full ball just outside off. Blocked
good length on middle. Swivels and pulls along the carpet to deep square leg. Gulsan with a diving effort ensures it's not four
full ball on off. Turning in. Firmly fended
tries to yorker him with a quicker ball around leg. But he manages to somehow sweep it leg side
overpitched outside off and swept to deep backward square leg for a couple
Sandeep is back. One final throw of the dice.