World Cup 2023: Netherlands demand 'bigger nation' status after another big scalp

Netherlands all-rounder Bas de Leede demanded that the Netherlands be afforded “bigger nation” status after beating Bangladesh by 87 runs at the World Cup in Kolkata on Saturday.

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Netherlands, the only non-Test playing nation at the World Cup, now have two huge wins at the tournament having already upset South Africa by 38 runs in Dharamsala.

“We want to try and get the International Cricket Council’s attention to start looking at us as a potentially bigger nation in the coming years,” said de Leede.

In the contest at the Eden Gardens, first of the World Cup in Kolkata, Netherlands captain Scott Edwards top-scored with 68 runs in his team’s 229 in 50 overs.

In attempt to defend the total, seamer Paul van Meekeren grabbed 4/23 to send Bangladesh crashing to 142 all out.

“I think obviously every win we get is going to be big for us and for cricket in the Netherlands,” said de Leede.

“We want to inspire young kids to take up the game back home.”

The win against Bangladesh was Netherlands’ fourth at the 50-over World Cups — they had defeated Namibia in 2003 and Scotland in 2007.

Asked how the Netherlands will celebrate the latest win, de Leede replied: “Nothing too crazy. Some of us will have a beer in the change room.

“We’ll sing a team song and apparently there’s a rugby game on tonight so, I think most of the guys will be watching that,” he said in reference to the Rugby World Cup final in Paris.

After the latest win, Netherlands have four points in six games but their slim chances of making the semi-finals will depend on other results – provided they win their remaining three matches.

“I think it (semi-final spot) depends how other teams do, how big our chances are for the semi-final. But for us the goal is to keep winning as many games as we can.

“I think there’s a couple of games where we haven’t played to our best, but then again today we did and if we can do that again for the next three games, who knows where we will finish.”

The Netherlands will face Afghanistan (November 3 in Lucknow), defending champions England (Pune on November 8) and hosts India (November 12 in Bengaluru).