The Netherlands qualified for the 2023 Cricket World Cup on Thursday, defeating Scotland by four wickets in a virtual semi-final in Zimbabwe. The Dutch will join Sri Lanka as the second team to qualify from the qualifying round for the 10-team tournament.
The Netherlands last featured in an ODI World Cup back in 2011, when the tournament was last held in India. The Dutch have also featured in the 1996, 2003 and 2007 editions of the World Cup.
In Thursday’s match, the Netherlands chased down a target of 278 in 44 overs. Bas de Leede was the star of the innings, scoring 123 runs off 103 balls. Vikramjit Singh also made a valuable contribution with 40 runs.
The Netherlands’ qualification for the World Cup is a major achievement for the team. They have been one of the most consistent teams in the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2, and they have now earned their place in the big tournament.
The 2023 Cricket World Cup will be held in India from October 5 to November 28. The Netherlands will be in Group A, along with England, Australia, Bangladesh and West Indies.
Also Read: Tamim Iqbal Retires from International Cricket months before the World Cup.
In the post-match presentation ceremony de Leede was quoted saying “We had a look at the targets, where we wanted to be at the halfway point. Maxy (Max O’Dowd) and Vikram (Vikramjit Singh) set the platform for the rest of us to finish it. The rate was 10 to 11 runs per over, so we had to go to the T20 mode, try as many runs as we could and see where it would take us. It’s amazing, can’t describe the feeling, it’s going to be one big party tonight.”
The Dutch will be hoping to make a strong impression at the World Cup, and they will be looking to improve on their previous best finish of fourth place in 1996.
Here are some of the reactions to the Netherlands’ qualification:
“This is a great achievement for the Netherlands,” said ICC Chief Executive David Richardson. “They have been playing some excellent cricket in recent years, and they deserve to be at the World Cup.”
“This is a dream come true for us,” said Netherlands captain Pieter Seelaar. “We have worked hard for this, and we are so excited to be going to the World Cup.”
“This is a huge moment for Dutch cricket,” said Netherlands Cricket Board CEO Peter van der Merwe. “We are all very proud of the team, and we can’t wait to see them in action at the World Cup.”
The Netherlands’ qualification for the 2023 Cricket World Cup is a major boost for the sport in the country. It will help to raise the profile of cricket in the Netherlands, and it will inspire a new generation of cricketers.