Dutchman Dutt breaks records as spinner knocks over Namibia in Nepal
Netherlands bowler Aryan Dutt has claimed the best figures for his country in men's ODIs, spinning his side into a commanding position against Namibia in their Cricket World Cup League 2 meeting on Monday.
By Daniel Beswick
The off-spinner at one point boasted figures of 5/12 in his first 18 balls to spark a Namibian collapse on neutral territory in Nepal, finishing with figures of 6/34 to put his team well on top at the innings break.
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Aryan Dutt records best ODI bowling figures by a Netherlands' bowler
The spinner's figures beat Timm van der Gugten's 5/24 (9) against Canada back in 2013 ICC World Cricket League Championship in King City. Dutt also joined the likes of Mudassar Bukhari and teammate Vivian Kingma to take six-wicket hauls in ICC tournaments for the Dutch that had List A status. Asim Khan's 7/9 are the best figures in an ICC tournament for the Netherlands, taking 7/9 against East and Central Africa at the 1997 ICC Trophy.
Dutt was almost the fastest to a five-wicket haul in ODI cricket by balls bowled, with his effort of 18 balls only bettered by the likes of Mohammed Siraj, Chaminda Vaas and American Ali Khan, who had all accomplished the feat in 16 balls in their respective performances.
Match highlights as Netherlands opened their account in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 with a stunning upset victory over South Africa in Dharamsala.
The 20-year-old struck with his second ball of the morning in Kirtipur, straightening an off-break enough to strike Michael van Lingen in front lbw. He claimed fellow left-hander JP Kotze by beating the outside edge and crashing into the off-stump, before trapping Jan Frylinck lbw next over with a ball keeping low.
The pressure of Dutt and the Dutch forced a false shot from Gerhard Erasmus for the spinner's fourth, with a quicker ball going straight on ending the short stay of Nicol Loftie-Eaton for number five.
Dutt claimed Zane Green thanks to a sharp slips catch from Noah Croes for the half-dozen, before Dutch skipper Scott Edwards saved the spinner's final two overs for the backend of the innings.
Match Highlights of the CWC League 2 clash between Namibia and Netherlands in Kirtipur on 19th February, 2024.
Namibia were eventually bowled out for 123 with Dutt ending up with six wickets, two for Kyle Klein and one each for Roelof van der Merwe and Max O'Dowd.
The Netherlands, in their chase, got off to a flyer thanks to Michael Levitt and Max O'Dowd's (28) opening stand of 78 runs. Levitt (57) eventually registered his maiden ODI fifty before being dismissed by Gerhard Erasmus -- who proved to be the only successful bowler for Namibia with figures of 3/23.
Bas De Leede (21*)* and captain Scott Edwards (4) finished the chase as the Netherlands won by seven wickets.