नीदरलैंड्स vs नामीबिया, मैच 10 Commentary, Live Updates

Done with this game - That's all from here, with the Netherlands securing their first points of the campaign while Namibia begin their journey with a defeat. The action now moves to Group D, where New Zealand take on the UAE at the Chepauk Stadium in Chennai. That game will get underway shortly, so you can switch tabs and join us for all the coverage. Cheers!

The victorious skipper of Netherlands - Scott Edwards notes that it was a pretty good day for them. The conditions favoured them and credited his bowlers for restricting Namibia to a below-par score. Mentions that it was nice to have spinners who can bowl to the left-handed batters. On Bas de Leede, Scott replies that he was sensational for the team. He came into the attack and did an excellent job, and was impressive with the bat too. Regarding their plan for the chase, Scott Edwards shares that they give their openers the freedom to express themselves, and he feels the Powerplay was decent. Further states that they back their batters to go hard and stay ahead of the game. Mentions that their next game against the USA is a massive one, and he hopes to win the match.

The captain of Namibia - Gerhard Erasmus says that they did reasonably well with the bat, but should have got more runs in the Powerplay. Adds that the wicket was a bit tacky, but overall, it was a good effort from them. Mentions that failing to build partnerships in the middle cost them, and reckons that if they had got to 160-170, they could have been in the game. Erasmus further says that when you are shy of runs, you try to buy wickets, which they could not. Tells that the next game will be under lights, so they will have to get used to the conditions. Admits that not having to travel and playing in the same venue is a good thing for them. Ends by saying that it will be a big crowd for that game against India, but they will prepare well for it.

Let's see what the captains have to say...

Tough outing for Namibia - There is not much to talk about in Namibia's bowling effort, largely because they did not have enough runs on the board. Bernard Scholtz struck early, with Ruben Trumpelmann and Loftie-Eaton also picking up wickets, but the breakthroughs came too few and too far apart as the damage had already been done. A couple of missed chances only made things harder, and Namibia will need to tighten up quickly ahead of their next game.

Bowlers set it up for the Dutch - Earlier in the game, Namibia posted a fighting total, thanks largely to Jan Frylinck and Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, who added 50 together, along with late cameos from Gerhard Erasmus and JJ Smit, which pushed them past 150 without a final flourish. Netherlands responded with a disciplined bowling effort, led by Logan van Beek's two wickets after his setback against Pakistan, while Bas de Leede also took two and Aryan Dutt and Fred Klaassen chipped in as well, backed up by sharp fielding and a couple of run-outs.

A chase wrapped up with class - Despite losing Max O'Dowd early, Netherlands never looked in trouble in the chase. Michael Levitt provided a brisk start, but it was the 70-run stand between Bas de Leede and Colin Ackermann that truly put the game beyond Namibia. De Leede led from the front, carrying the confidence from his bowling into his batting, and finished unbeaten on 72 off 48 balls, fittingly striking the winning runs with a couple of overs to spare

PLAYER OF THE MATCH - Bas de Leede wins the award for his 2/20 (3) with the ball and 72* off 48 with the bat. He notes that bowling first provided a strategic advantage by allowing the team to assess the conditions early on. Observing that the wicket was particularly sticky, he deliberately adjusted his length to bowl shorter than usual to exploit the surface. Further expresses that the pitch conditions favored batters who aimed to hit down the ground. Reflecting on his own performance, Bas de Leede attributes his success to the significant time he invested in strength training prior to the start of the tournament.

Netherlands cruise to a statement win - A clinical chase from the Dutch gets them up and running in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. Netherlands outplayed Namibia in every facet of the game, making it a tough start for the African nation, who will have plenty to reflect on as they look ahead to the challenges to come.

FOUR! Bas de Leede hits the winning runs. Flatter trajectory, it's fired very full and wide outside off, Bas de Leede stays back, opens the face of the bat and calmly guides it through the gap between backward point and short third for a boundary. NETHERLANDS WIN BY 7 WICKETS, with 2 overs to spare. That's a statement win!

SIX! Netherlands are two runs away now. Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton bowls a leggie but errs in line, bowling on the leg side. Bas de Leede quickly gets on his knee and powers it over square leg for the second six of the over.

Fractionally short, outside off, Edwards strokes it wide of point for a single.

Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton pushes it touch wide and bowls it full. Edwards bends his back knee and lofts it to the right of deep extra cover for a brace.

SIX! ALL THE WAY! This was asking to be hit! Floats it on the fuller side, around off, Edwards slog sweeps it high and over the deep mid-wicket fence.

A low full toss, around off, Edwards plants his front foot inside the line and sweeps it to deep square leg for a couple of runs. Netherlands are nicely picking the gaps.

19 needed in 18 now. With the game in control and wickets in hand, Netherlands might look to finish this as early as possible to help with NRR, as it could play a big factor in the group stages. Also, here is Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton to bowl.

Overpitched, around off, Edwards digs it out to mid off for a run.

FOUR! IN THE GAP! A well-directed bumper, around off, Edwards gets on his toes and pulls it in front of square on the leg, wide of the fielder in the deep for a boundary. 20 needed off 19 balls.

Short of a length, around off, stays a bit low and Bas de Leede works it to long on for a single.

Goes fuller and outside off, Bas de Leede pushes it to point where the fielder makes a fine stop.

Ruben Trumpelmann keeps it short and bowls into the surface, outside off. Bas de Leede gets on top of the bounce and taps it to cover.

Scott Edwards comes down to this shorter delivery and pulls it wide of square leg for one.

Excellent running! 12 runs off the over! Tad fuller and on middle, Bas de Leede flicks it with soft hands and in front of deep mid-wicket for a brace.

JJ Smit rolls his fingers on this fuller delivery and serves it outside off, Bas de Leede is deceived by the lack of pace and gets beaten.

Pitches it up, outside off, Bas de Leede leans and firmly drives it through cover. The deep point fielder runs across and cuts it off. Two runs.

Touch fuller, around off, Bas de Leede fails to time it cleanly and finds the cover fielder.

FOUR! MORE! Edgy but Bas de Leede won't mind! Offers width on the off side, shorter length. Bas de Leede slashes his blade and edges it past the diving keeper, no chance for short third man as well and it races to the fence.

FOUR! Fifty for Bas de Leede. A superb all-round performance so far but it will count once Netherlands will cross the victory line. Short in length and on middle, Bas de Leede clears his front leg and flat-bats it past the bowler and into the fence.

Drops it short and on middle, Bas de Leede punches it to long on for one more. Just 3 runs off the over!

Flighted delivery, full and on middle, Bas de Leede defends it back to the bowler.

Slows it up, full and on off, Bas de Leede pushes it to short cover.

Floated, full and down the leg side. Scott Edwards shapes up for the reverse paddle, but adjusts to the line of the ball and ends up paddling it to short fine for a single.

Tossed up, full and on middle, Scott Edwards pushes it back to the bowler.

Flatter, short and on middle, Bas de Leede backs away and punches it through cover-point for a single.

DRINKS! Despite the wicket, Netherlands are still ahead in the chase. The last partnership has settled things up for the Dutch, and Namibia will need a flurry of wickets to get back in this game.

OUT! CAUGHT! Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton strikes now to break the 70-run stand, that came off 51 balls. He tosses it up, full and around off. Colin Ackermann crouches and tries to go big down the ground. However, he has to reach out for it a bit and ends up slicing it as his bat turns in his hands. It flies towards long off, where Gerhard Erasmus takes a good catch. Ackermann departs for 32 off 28, and Netherlands are 116/3, still needing 41 runs in 36 balls.

Floated, full and on off, Bas de Leede drives it to long off for one.

SIX! Stand and deliver! Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton gives a bit of flight, full and on middle, in the slot as well. Bas de Leede clears his front leg out, hits it through the line and smacks it over the bowler's head for half a dozen of runs.

Flatter, full and on off, Colin Ackermann bunts it down to long off for another run.

Fires one full and outside off, Bas de Leede backs away and drills it to deep point for a run.

Flighted, full and on off, Colin Ackermann goes down and sweeps it to deep square leg for a single.

Quicker, full and around off, Colin Ackermann pushes it through covers for one more. 11 runs from the over, 51 needed off 42 balls.

A low full toss, on middle, Bas de Leede drills it to long on for one.

SIX! 100 UP FOR NETHERLANDS! Tossed up, full and around middle. Bas de Leede dances down the track to get to the pitch of it and whacks it over the deep mid-wicket fence for a biggie.

Flatter, full and on middle, Colin Ackermann clips it through square leg for a single.

Gerhard Erasmus bowls this with a low-arm action, full again and on off, Colin Ackermann goes down and sweeps it to deep square leg. Ruben Trumpelmann tries to get to the ball but fumbles and allows the second run. That also brings up the 50-run stand between these two batters.

Floated delivery, from way behind the crease, full and on off, Colin Ackermann knocks it back to the bowler.

Good length and on middle, Colin Ackermann clips it through square leg for one more. Just 5 runs off the over, tidy from Trumpelmann!

Bangs this into the pitch, outside off, Bas de Leede throws his hands at it. Gets a thick outside edge down to third man for one.

Ruben Trumpelmann gets the yorker in now, on middle, Colin Ackermann gets his bat down and tucks it through mid-wicket for another run.

Short of a length, on middle, angling in. Bas de Leede gets a bit huirred and mistimes his pull towards deep square leg for a run.

Back of a length and around off, Bas de Leede steps across to punch it away. He tries to hit it a bit too hard and ends up stabbing it down to short cover.

On a length and on middle, Colin Ackermann nudges it through mid-wicket for a single.

FOUR! There is no stopping that! Short of a length and outside off. Bas de Leede accepts the width on offer, gets his hands through the shot and slaps it through extra cover for a boundary. 13 off the over, 67 needed off 54 balls.

Excellent fielding again! Hard length and just around off, Colin Ackermann waits for it and steers it away wide if short third. Ruben Trumpelmann dives to his left and saves a certain boundary here. They cross.

Good effort in the deep! Bangs this into the pitch, on middle, Colin Ackermann pulls it away wide of deep mid-wicket. The fielder, Dylan Leicher, runs to his right and puts in a big dive to push the ball back inside. He saves two runs for his team.

Back of a length and around off, Colin Ackermann steers it away towards point.

SIX! Into the stands! A slower delivery, full and around off. Colin Ackermann picks it up early, he pauses a bit before slogging it over the deep mid-wicket fence for a massive six.

Good length and outside off, Colin Ackermann shuffles across early for the scoop but misses and gets hit on the pads.

Max Heingo is back on. He conceded 9 runs in his first over.

JJ Smit pitches it up on the 8-meter length, outside off, it's punched to cover. 80 needed off 60 balls at the halfway mark.

DROPPED! A sitter which should have been taken. JJ Smit bangs it short and bowls it around off, the bounce gets big on Colin Ackermann, who is pegged back while trying to pull. He hits it off the higher part of the blade and to deep square leg where Louren Steenkamp drops an absolute dolly. A single.

Short in length and around off, Colin Ackermann pulls it to the right of long on. The fielder runs across, dives and flicks it away. The fielder adjacent to him collects to keep it down to two.

JJ Smit bowls it in the channel, around off and no room for Colin to work it away, this is knocked to point.

Working in singles and doubles at the moment! JJ Smit pushes it a touch short and on middle, Bas de Leede pulls it to deep square leg for a single.

On a good length and tight on the off pole. Colin Ackermann fends it away to deep mid-wicket for one.

A single to end the over as Colin Ackermann works this full ball to long on.

TWO MORE! Looped up, full and on leg, Colin Ackermann sweeps it behind square on the leg side. The fielder in the deep does well to save a couple for his team.

Fractionally short, outside off, this is cut to deep point for a single.

A leg-breaker, fuller and on leg, Bas de Leede is pegged back as he clips it uppishly to deep mid-wicket. It's wide of the fielder for a brace. There is a quick run out check at the non-striker's end but Colin Ackermann is in.

Fires it full and in line of the stumps, eased down to long on for a single.

A flighted full toss, outside off, dipping just enough onto the batter. Bas de Leede hits it through covers and runs across.

Attacks the stumps with a fuller delivery, Bas de Leede punches it aerially past Scholtz and to long off for one.

Serves it too full, around off, Bas de Leede gets underneath and crunches it to the left of long off for a brace.

Slingy action from Bernard Scholtz as he pitches it on middle, tucked to mid-wicket for one.

Looped up, fuller delivery on middle, Bas de Leede nudges it to mid-wicket for a single.

Angles in a length ball on leg, it comes with the arm. Bas de Leede tries to heave it across but gets a thick inside edge onto the pads.

FOUR! Thumped back! An arm ball, straighter and holds his line on leg, Bas de Leede clears his front leg and pumps it down to long on for a boundary.

Touch fuller and on middle, Bas de Leede uses his feet as he hits it to long on and keeps the strike. 5 runs off the debutant's first over.

A half-tracker, into the surface and turning away, around off, Colin Ackermann bunts it wide of long on for a run.

Slower in the air, fuller and on leg, Bas de Leede works it to square leg for one more.

Tossed up, full and on middle, Colin turns it to mid-wicket and rotates the strike.

A slider, slightly short and angling on leg, Colin Ackermann misses out as he flicks it straight to short fine leg.

Leg bye! Drifts in a fuller delivery onto the pads. Bas de Leede fails to flick and it rolls off the pads to square leg for a leg bye.

Drops it short, wide outside off. Colin Ackermann cuts it late to third man. The fielder slides to his left and saves a couple of runs. 50 up for Netherlands as we end the Powerplay.

Bowls it full and on the pads, flicked to deep square leg for a single.

Back of a length and around off, Colin Ackermann nudges it to mid-wicket and gets off the mark with a run.

DRINKS! Netherlands are ahead at this stage in terms of runs, but they have now lost both their openers. However, the chase is still under control and they just need to be smart and not rush into anything, but for Namibia, it is all about wickets. They have to keep striking at regular intervals, and cannot let any big partnerships grow here. Also, Colin Ackermann comes out to the middle now.

OUT! TAKEN! Ruben Trumpelmann gets his 50th T20I wicket. Netherlands have lost both the openers inside the Powerplay. Trumpelmann pushes his line across the batter and serves it full. Levitt, without any foot movement, swings his blade and slices it high up and to cover. Willem Myburgh tracks back and settles under it to take the skier. Michael Levitt goes for 28 (15). 110 runs needed in 87 balls.

Drags his length back and keeps it on middle, tight from Ruben Trumpelmann and Levitt taps it back.

SIX! BANG! A half-volley on middle and leg. Levitt clears his front leg and tonks it over deep mid-wicket for an 81-meter six.

A bit of a mix-up but no harm done! Hits the length hard and on off, Bas de Leede stabs it to the left of the bowler and sets off for the run, but is sent back. Heingo gets to the ball, turns and throws it at the batter's end but misses. Bas de Leede would have been home even with a direct hit.

SIX! Bas de Leede joins the party now! Max Heingo bowls this slightly fuller and on middle. Bas de Leede shimmies down the track, brings his bottom hand into play and launches it over the long on fence for a biggie.

On a length and on off, Bas de Leede pushes it back to the bowler.

Back of a length and on middle and leg, Bas de Leede heaves it away wide of deep square leg for a couple of runs.

Almost dragged on! Short of a length and around off, Bas de Leede hops up to cut it away but fails to handle the bounce, and gets a bottom edge onto the pitch. That could have easily gone back to the stumps.

Good-length delivery, on middle, Michael Levitt fends it to the leg side and sets off for the run. Heingo himself runs to his right, picks up the ball and has a shy at the bowler's end. He misses, but even if he had hit, Levitt was in.

Bowling change. Max Heingo is into the attack.

Full again and on middle, Michael Levitt pushes it towards cover for one.

SIX! That is outta here! JJ Smit tries to follow the batter, serves this full and on leg. Michael Levitt backs away early, crouches low and slog sweeps it. He gets it from the toe-end of his bat but the ball still flies well over the deep square leg fence for a biggie.

Hits the length hard, on middle and leg, shaping in a bit too. Michael Levitt stays back to work it across the line but misses and gets hit on the pads.

Back of a length and on off, Bas de Leede guides it towards point for a single.

Good length and on middle and off, Bas de Leede pats it back to the bowler.

On a length and on leg, Bas de Leede knocks it towards mid on.

FOUR! Connects right from the middle this time! Bernard Scholtz drags his length back and on middle, begging to be put away. Michael Levitt rocks back early and pulls it to the wide long on fence for a boundary.

Quicker, full and around off, Michael Levitt steers it away towards point.

Floated, full and on middle, Michael Levitt clears his front leg and slogs it, but does not get the timing right. It goes over mid-wicket, but the fielder in the deep runs to his left to cut it out. Two taken.

Short and around off, Bas de Leede punches it to down to long off for a single.

Tossed up, full and on middle, Bas de Leede knocks it down the pitch.

Bas de Leede walks in at number 3.

OUT! TAKEN! Bernard Scholtz strikes and this is a huge wicket for Namibia. This is a flatter delivery, short and on middle, angling in too. Max O'Dowd looks to swat it over mid on but gets rushed and hits it from the toe-end of the bat. He knows he has not timed it at all as soon as he hits that, and hangs his head down in disappointment. The ball lobs up towards mid on, where Gerhard Erasmus takes a simple catch. Netherlands are 16/1, chasing 157 runs.

Pitched up and on off, Max O'Dowd opens the face of his bat and drives it square through point for one.

Back of a length and around off, Michael Levitt punches it hard towards extra cover. The fielder gets his body behind the ball and makes a half-stop. They cross.

Short of a length and on off, Max O'Dowd dabs it down towards point for a quick single.

That's a beauty! Ruben Trumpelmann bowls a scrambled-seam delivery, lands this on a hard length and on the fifth stump line, nips away after hitting the deck. Max O'Dowd stays back to play with a straight bat but the ball zips past the outside edge.

FOUR! Excellent shot! Fuller delivery again, on middle. Max O'Dowd gives himself some room to access the off side and thrashes it over covers for a boundary.

Much better! Good length and on middle and leg, Max O'Dowd gets behind the line of it and blocks it out.

WIDE! Ruben Trumpelmann errs in line and begins with a fuller one, down the leg side. Max O'Dowd misses his flick. Called a wide.

Pace from the other end? Yes, Ruben Trumpelmann to steam in...

SIX! BANG! That's aggressive! Bernard Scholtz gives this one a bit more flight and around off. Michael Levitt skips down the track, extends his arms to get under it. He hits it flat and hard and the ball carries over the long off fence for the first biggie of the chase.

A bit of turn! Floated delivery, full and on off, grips and turns away. Michael Levitt gets squared up as the ball goes off the outer half of the bat along the ground to short third.

Slows it up, full and on middle and leg, Max O'Dowd works it off the inner half of the bat towards mid-wicket for a run.

Dragged back and around middle, Max O'Dowd pats it down to mid on.

Arm ball, short and on middle, angling into batter. Michael Levitt has no room for the cut but sitll goes through the shot. Gets an inside edge towards short fine for a single. Netherlands are underway in the chase.

Not a bad start! Bernard Scholtz pushes this through quicker, shortish and around off, skids through. Michael Levitt backs away to cut but misses.