Thaindian News

New Delhi, March 9 (IANS) The Netherlands lost their way after a cautious start and their innings were wrapped up for 189 runs in 46.4 overs by India in their World Cup Group B match here Wednesday.

Electing to bat on a wicket that had low bounce, the Dutch negotiated the new ball well but failed to capitalise on the steady start.

A win here will assure India of a quarterfinal berth.

Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra, who replaced Munaf Patel for his first match in this World Cup, could not get an early breakthrough and it was left to Piyush Chawla to provide it as he bowled Eric Szwarczynski (28) with a googly. Then Yuvraj Singh (2-43), fresh from his maiden five-wicket haul against Ireland, struck twice before Zaheer came back to check a late Dutch onslaught by taking two quick wickets to finish with 3-20.

Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni used his bowlers in short spells. Surprisingly, he gave Nehra only one over with the new ball and Yusuf Pathan and Harbhajan Singh were introduced in the fourth and seventh overs, respectively.

Szwarczynski and Wesley Barresi (26) rustled up 56 runs before they were separated in the 16th over. Barresi followed his opening partner three overs later when Yuvraj got him leg before. It was Yuvraj’s 100th ODI wicket and he got a huge applause from the crowd as the number flashed on the electronic scoreboard.

A lot was expected of Ryan ten Doeschate (11), who had made a hundred against England, but he misread a Yuvraj delivery and scooped a simple catch to Zaheer Khan in the straight field.

Tom Cooper (29) was the next to go, caught behind off Nehra in the next over to leave the Dutch tottering at 100 for four.

Skipper Peter Borren (38) and Mudassar Bukhari (21) gave a late flourish to their innings with a quickfire 38-run stand for the ninth wicket.

Borren swatted Chawla for two successive sixes over mid-on and midwicket in the leg-spinner’s last over that went for 17 runs and spoiled his figures.

Taking the cue from his skipper, Bukhari hit Nehra for a six and a four in the next over. Bukhari then slammed Harbhajan for another six in the 46th over before Zaheer removed him and Borren in three balls to end the Dutch innings.