After winning the toss against the Netherlands in their eighth match in the World Cup, David Malan’s half-century went into bat and England brought up the team’s century in 15 overs.
It was already known that the batters will get additional benefits as the pitch of the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune is conducive to batting. And two English openers Jonny Bairstow and David Malan took that opportunity. Batting started rampaging the Dutch bowlers. He took 47 runs in 6 overs.
Aryan Dutt broke this pair in the next over. Jonny Bairstow returned to the dugout after being caught by Paul van Meekeren off Aryan Dutt. On his departure, the English opening pair was broken by 47 runs.
Jonny Bairstow returned but David Malan continued to run wild with Joe Root. He picked up a personal half-century off just 36 balls against the Dutch. Which includes 10 fours. With his half-century, the English have taken the team’s century in just 15 overs.
So far the two teams have met 6 times. Where the English won all the matches. The last time these two teams met in a three-match series. Where the Dutch did not care at all. England scored a record 498 runs in the first match of that series. Which is the highest run in ODI history.
England team entered the field today with two changes. Mark Wood and Livingstone have been replaced by Harry Brook and Atkingson. Meanwhile, the Dutch also brought a change to the team. Teja has returned to Zulfikar’s place.
England XI: Jonny Bairstow, David Malan, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (wicketkeeper/captain), Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, David Willey, Gus Atkinson, Adil Rashid.
Netherlands XI: Wesley Baresi, Max Odaud, Colin Ackerman, Sybrand Engelbrecht, Scott Edwards (wicketkeeper/captain), Bass de Lied, Teja Nidamanuru, Logan van Beek, Roelof van der Merwe, Ariane Dutt, Paul van Meekeren.
(08 November/NBW)