Despite the USA’s epic harakiri, Milind Kumar’s valiant attempt is in vain

About 20 minutes before the last wicket fell, Netherlands came from behind to upset a cruising USA side by 19 runs in what looked like a done deal. The USA needed 28 off 37 with five wickets in hand at one stage while chasing 238 on a flat surface, but the lower order collapsed spectacularly after Milind Kumar left for a shaky 69 off 79 deliveries. With a lucky flick off a harmless delivery outside leg, Netherlands may have started the collapse, but the USA dug their own grave after that.

Following Milind Kumar fall, the team submitted meekly, scoring eight laborious runs off the next 35 deliveries with no vigour, creativity or aggression at the bat.

Although it would be unfair to hold the lower order accountable for the loss, the Netherlands bowlers highlighted the USA bottom order’s lack of game awareness with the bat. For the sixth wicket, Milind and Shadley Van Schalkwyk put on a 68-run partnership off 83 deliveries. Shadley hung onto one end with a very watchful 19 off 39, while Milind produced 46 off 44.

But following Milind’s departure, the 36-year-old fast bowling all-rounder was unable to take the lead as an aggressor. Without much incident, he scored two more runs off of ten deliveries as Harmeet Singh, Jasdeep Singh, and Noshthush Kenjige all had identical outcomes.

Early in the little chase, Vivian Kingma shook the ship of the United States. On the opening ball of the innings, he trapped Steven Taylor in front and, three deliveries later, removed USA’s batting mainstay Monank Patel, causing a thick edge to point when he squared him up with a slightly straightened ball.

With a barrage of boundaries, Smit Patel and Aaron Jones launched a counterattack that caused the Dutch to fall behind for the remaining ninety minutes. Kingma and Klein paid a heavy price for overcompensating on their lengths in their pursuit of swing, as the two punished them with some delicious off drives.

Smit unleashed a terrifying first delivery to begin his onslaught against leg spinner Shiraz Ahmed. However, Ahmed outwitted Smit by hitting him in the front with a googly off the subsequent ball. Ahmed sent Jones packing three runs short of his half century with another googly, which the batter tamely chipped to mid wicket, after Smit left for a well-compiled 38.

Although Shayan Jahangir quickly reached 20 from 24 deliveries and gave one back to Aryan Dutt in the most gentle of dismissals, he still showed promise. Milind and Shadley worked together to sail towards a target they nearly had in their purse after reeling at 142 for 4 in the 31st over.

Earlier in the day, after Michael Levitt stumbled across his off stump and the leg stump broke around his legs, USA rookie Juanoy Drysdale produced his maiden international wicket off his eighth ball. Drysdale was soon to experience the unpredictable nature of international cricket when he was punished by Vikramjit Singh with three square drives that raced to the fence when he strayed too far outside off.

During the first PowerPlay, Max O’ Dowd was shadowed by Vikramjit. However, in the 11th over, he unleashed a devastating blow to mid wicket off Taylor, breaking the chains and sending Shadley sailing to the point boundary.

Taylor blasted a couple balls on O’Dowd’s legs, containing him for the next ten overs before he struck three times at the leg side boundary. One run short of his half century, Taylor cleaned him up, giving him the last laugh in this duel. The Netherlands lost wickets in a row when Milind was introduced. Shortly after turning fifty, Vikramjit shot himself in the foot, attempting a suicide dash that left him inches from the ground.

Wesley Baressi, a seasoned batsman, had a meek stint at the crease until Milind thudded one to his pads. After a mix-up with captain Scott Edwards, Noah Croes left the pitch moments later, and the Netherlands lost three wickets in the span of six balls.

Edwards and Shariz Ahmed steadied the vessel. Ahmad was happy to anchor an end up as Edwards maintained his foot on the gas. Before Klein came in to provide the finishing touches that lifted the Netherlands to a respectable 237 in their 50 overs, Edwards eventually stabilised a collapsing Dutch innings with a brisk 65 off 55 deliveries. This proved to be sufficient in the end for the Dutch to maintain their winning record against the USA in all forms of cricket.