Ahmedabad : India defeated Netherlands by 17 runs at Ahmedabad in Group A encounter of ICC T20 WC 2026, with help of all-round brilliance of Shivam Dube scoring 66 with Bat & 2/35 with Ball.
In their final group game, India overcame a cagey start against Netherlands to finish at 193/6 in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.
It was three matches, three ducks for Abhishek Sharma. Coming on the back of two zeroes, Sharma was visibly nervous and his plan of hitting his way into form failed, as he completely missed the ball from Dutch off-spinner Aryan Dutt and saw his stumps knocked over.
Dutt troubled the Indian batters early on, and also dismissed Ishan Kishan (18) as the ball trickled onto the stumps. India finish powerplay at 51/2.
Roelof van der Merwe, 41, pulled off a stunning, diving catch at long-off to end the budding partnership between Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma (31).
After a quiet few minutes, India launched into the attack in the 12th over, with Yadav picking up a six on the leg side. Shivam Dube then got into the act, hitting two sixes and a four, as India amassed 19 runs in the 13th over.
Despite Yadav departing for 34, Dube carried on in the same vein, muscling the ball all round the park. He struck six sixes and four fours for a 31-ball 66. During his innings of 30 off 21, Hardik Pandya crossed a milestone 6000 runs in T20 cricket. India clobbered 75 runs in the last five overs to take the score to 193/6.
Netherlands were set a target of 194 and they got off to a steady start. The openers put up 35 runs before Varun Chakaravarthy broke through, dismissing Max O’Dowd for 20.
The visitors added another 16 runs with the other opener Michael Levitt, succumbing to Hardik Pandya in the eighth over.
Bas de Leede and Colin Ackermann upped the ante with a 53-run partnership off 26 balls but with the required run rate rising, Ackermann first fell by the sword, holing out in the deep to the bowling of Varun Chakaravarthy.
The Indian spinner was on a hat-trick for a second time in two matches, deceiving Aryan Dutt with a wonderful googly. The well-set De Leede too followed him to the dugout soon after, with India’s batting hero Shivam Dube also making an impact with the ball.
Despite Netherlands giving tough fight, including striking 18 runs off 19th over of Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube defended 28 off last over, also picking a wicket and ending with spell of 2/35.
India restricted Netherlands on 176-7 (20), winning by 17 runs and going into Super 8 being undefeated in Group Stage.
Brief Scorecard –
1st Innings :
IND : 193-6 (20)
2nd Innings :
NED : 176-7 (20)
Result : India won by 17 runs.
