Win Projections to be updated soon
The 34th ODI of the ongoing marquee event is underway featuring Netherlands and Afghanistan. The match which is important for the two teams to decide on their destiny is being played at the Ekana Sports City in Lucknow. With Afghanistan yet to bat, the Dutch skipper Scott Edwards chose to bat first delivering a target of 179 runs after getting bowled out for 46.3 overs. Well, it is noteworthy that the Dutch never fails to impress with its conduct at the time of pressure and the team has constantly performed well in the tournament as well. Today at the faceoff, a rare moment of pure sportsmanship was witnessed within the Dutch batters at the 14th over of the first innings.
Refuses to take a single!
Netherlands batsmen Sybrand Engelbrecht and Colon Ackermann showcased a vivid gesture of sportsmanship when Ackermann prohibited Engelbrecht from taking a single run after Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi’s delivery. In the very 3rd ball of the 13th over bowled by Mohammad Nabi, Engelbrecht hit a full length delivery only when Ackermann unintentionally came in Nabi’s way who was attempting to stop the ball. The spinner rushed to his right to stop the ball but rather his way was obstructed by Ackermann’s presence.
Deciding to play in the spirit of the game, Ackermann sent back Engelbrecht who was off to take a single after hitting the ball. At that time, the Dutch were there for 129 runs with 6 wickets down. This masterly gesture by the two players have been winning hearts since the video clip got virat on various social media platforms.
What destiny do the two teams hold on?
While the Netherlands had a stuttering start with Baressi getting dismissed at a single run, Engelbrecht played a convincing knock of 58 runs off 86 deliveries. Though Afghanistan’s batting prowess is yet to be witnessed, both teams have showcased a commendable performance throughout the tournament.
While the Dutch registered its first ever victory against one of the World Cup favourites South Africa which was totally unexpected, the second win came against Bangladesh. On the other hand, Afghanistan registered their winning records against England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka respectively. The two contending teams might not be able to seal their spots in the semi-finals, they still have a chance to qualify for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy if they finish within top 7 teams currently.
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