Bas de Leede leads the Netherlands to the 2023 Cricket WC | A Legacy Continues

In a crucial virtual knockout match between the Netherlands and Scotland at the ICC World Cup qualifiers, held this Thursday, the Dutch side emerged victorious by four wickets, securing their qualification for the ODI Cricket World Cup 2023.

The Dutch star, Bas de Leede, played a pivotal role as the match-winner with his exceptional all-round performance. He showcased his bowling prowess by taking 5 wickets and also displayed his batting brilliance by scoring a remarkable century, leading his team to victory. This marks the team's return to the World Cup stage after their last appearance in 2011.

Scotland seemed poised to secure a spot in the 2023 World Cup until the 23-year-old turned the game around with his outstanding batting, scoring 123 runs off 92 balls. With this victory, the Netherlands joins Sri Lanka in the list of teams qualifying for the 2023 World Cup, which will be hosted by India later this year.

Bas de Leede, son of former Netherlands captain and Sportco ambassador Tim de Leede, carries on his father's legacy for the national cricket team. Having represented his country in multiple World Cups, including being a part of the side that reached the 2003 World Cup semi-finals, Tim's cricketing influence continues through his talented son.

Tim de Leede's Legacy

Timotherus Bernardus Maria de Leede, widely known as Tim de Leede, is a former captain of the Netherlands cricket team. Born on January 25, 1968, in Holland, he was a talented all-rounder and a powerful middle-order batsman known for his hard-hitting abilities. Tim enjoyed an illustrious 11-year ODI career for the Netherlands, representing his country in 29 matches. He played in the 1996, 2003, and 2007 World Cups, earning recognition as the Man of the Match against India in the 2003 edition. Years later, his son Bas de Leede followed in his footsteps and claimed the Player of the Match award in the World Cup qualifier against Scotland.

After retiring in 2007, Tim pursued a coaching career and was appointed as the head coach of the France national cricket team in 2015. With his continued passion for sports, he endorsed Sportco, a platform that facilitates sports fan engagement through innovative technology, and became an ambassador for the brand.

Bas de Leede, representing the Netherlands in the World Cup qualifier, has proven himself to be a brilliant all-rounder, much like his father. He made his debut for the Dutch side during the 2018 World Cup qualifiers and, five years later, led his team to victory in the prestigious World Cup.

During the crucial match against Scotland, Bas de Leede achieved several significant milestones that left their mark on the cricketing world:

• He became only the fourth player in Men's One Day Internationals (ODIs) to score a century and take a five-wicket haul, joining the likes of Viv Richards, Paul Collingwood, and Rohan Mustafa.
   
• Bas de Leede became the first all-rounder to achieve the feat of scoring a hundred and taking a five-wicket haul in the same match during a World Cup qualifier.
   
• He surpassed Alexei Kervezee's record for the most sixes hit by a batsman in ODIs between the Netherlands and Scotland. Bas smashed five sixes, breaking Kervezee's twelve-year-old record.
   

This match also set new records and showcased the significance of the Netherlands-Scotland rivalry:

It marked the first instance of two centuries being scored in an ODI match between the Netherlands and Scotland. Previously, no player had achieved a century in this rivalry. McMullen set the record for the highest individual score, which was later broken by Bas de Leede's outstanding knock of 123 runs.

Scotland captain Richie Berrington and Brandon McMullen formed a 137-run partnership for the fourth wicket, setting Scotland's highest ODI partnership against the Netherlands.

What does this win mean for the Netherlands?

The Netherlands' victory holds immense importance as they secured their place alongside Sri Lanka in the ICC World Cup 2023, which will be hosted by India. Despite Scotland's better net run rate, the Dutch team managed to overcome the odds in a match that seemed uncertain. Led by captain Scott Edwards and with crucial contributions from Bas de Leede and Zulfiqar, they successfully chased down a target of 278 runs in just 42.5 overs, winning the match by 4 wickets.

This inspiring Dutch team has scripted an incredible comeback story, earning their place in the ODI World Cup 2023. It marks the fifth time that the Netherlands has qualified for the prestigious global event.

The ICC Men's ODI Cricket World Cup 2023, the 13th edition of the tournament, is scheduled to take place in India from October 5 to November 19, 2023. The tournament will feature 10 teams: India, Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and the Netherlands.

The semifinals of the World Cup will be held in Mumbai and Kolkata, while the final is set to take place on November 19, 2023, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.