NEW DELHI: Bas de Leede hit an assured 72 as the Netherlands kept their Super 8 hopes alive in the men’s T20 World Cup with a confident seven-wicket win against Namibia in their Group A match here on Tuesday, bouncing back from a painful defeat to Pakistan despite being in a strong position in that game.
The Netherlands produced a tidy, disciplined bowling performance to restrict Namibia to a modest 156 for 8 in the clash between the associate nations, despite a spirited middle-overs recovery from the African side.
This was Namibia’s first outing of the tournament, and it showed in patches. Short of match time in recent weeks, with their last T20I being a last-ball win over South Africa in October 2025, they took time to find their rhythm.
With the Indian team not involved, the stands were sparsely populated, but the cricket on display was of good quality.
Jan Frylinck (30) and Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton (42) revived the Namibian innings with a steady 50-run stand after an early setback, while JJ Smit (22) provided some fireworks down the order. However, the late flourish did not come, and Namibia settled for a modest total on a sporty wicket.
Bas de Leede, who remained unbeaten, and Colin Ackermann (32) did the bulk of the scoring after opener Michael Levitt (28) provided a quick start as the Netherlands overhauled the target without fuss.
The Netherlands next play the USA in Chennai on Friday, while Namibia face a tough test against hosts India at the same venue on Thursday.
The Dutch, who had lost to Pakistan in Colombo after dictating terms for large parts of that match, showed far greater composure this time.
After losing Max O’Dowd (7) early, Levitt provided early momentum with a brisk innings before falling in the powerplay. Ackermann steadied the innings with a fluent 32, forging a vital stand with de Leede.
De Leede anchored the chase with a measured knock off 48 balls, mixing caution with aggression. He struck nine boundaries, including four sixes. Skipper Scott Edwards finished things off in style with an unbeaten 18 as the Netherlands reached 159 for three in 18 overs.
Namibia’s bowlers struggled to contain the Dutch middle order once the platform was set.
Earlier, the Dutch set the tone with the ball. Pacer Logan van Beek (2/13) hit the deck hard with the new ball, while off-spinner Aryan Dutt (1/13) bowled a probing, miserly spell that choked the scoring.
Dutt provided the first breakthrough when he lured Nikolaas Davin Steenkamp (6) down the track. Steenkamp stepped out to negate the spin but missed the line completely, allowing Edwards to complete a sharp stumping.
The Netherlands largely controlled the powerplay, conceding just 29 runs in the first five overs. Namibia managed only one six in that phase, with Frylinck briefly breaking the shackles by pulling Klaassen for a maximum.
Seeing Dutt’s impact, Edwards introduced Colin Ackermann, but the off-break bowler was handled confidently. Loftie-Eaton (42) hammered him straight down the ground for six, while Frylinck followed with a crisp cover drive for four.
The pair added a valuable 50-run stand, but with runs still at a premium, van Beek returned to break the partnership, inducing Frylinck to edge behind.
Namibia skipper Gerhard Erasmus, fresh at the crease, then provided the spark the innings needed. He unfurled a fluent display against Tim van der Gugten, creaming 16 runs from one over to push Namibia past 100 in the 13th.
Edwards responded with smart captaincy, rotating his bowlers, mixing pace and spin, and using as many as eight bowling options to prevent momentum from building.
The Netherlands needed Loftie-Eaton to bat deep, and van Beek delivered again, removing the set batter to redeem himself after an expensive penultimate over against Pakistan earlier in the tournament.
JJ Smit briefly threatened a late surge, lofting Roelof van der Merwe for back-to-back sixes, but de Leede cut short the cameo, clipping the bail with a quicker delivery.
Without a final flourish, Namibia were forced to settle for a below-par total, one the Netherlands backed themselves to chase.