Dube's death-overs batting fuels India's fourth consecutive win

For a period on Wednesday evening at the world's largest cricket ground, the Netherlands dared to dream of a major World Cup upset. They had India under pressure until Shivam Dube began launching balls to the boundary, scoring 66 runs off 30 deliveries to propel India to 193/6.

That total initially seemed unlikely against the Dutch bowlers' variations—slower balls, cutters, and knuckle balls—which stifled India's typically explosive batting lineup. The strategy worked effectively until Dube capitalized on some predictable changes of pace and the ground's uneven square boundaries (60m and 68m).

India's innings struggled to gain momentum until the 12th over. The top order faced persistent difficulties as Netherlands' bowlers executed their lengths precisely. Abhishek Sharma was dismissed for his third consecutive duck, and Ishan Kishan fell victim to misfortune—both bowled by off-spinner Aryan Dutt, who delivered three exceptional PowerPlay overs conceding only 17 runs.

Netherlands' medium-pacers further frustrated Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav through the middle overs, with slower balls pitched outside off-stump. A spectacular catch by Roelof van der Merwe ended the struggling partnership, sending Tilak back for 31 off 27 balls. Suryakumar sought to accelerate as he did against the USA, but the opportunity eluded him until the final ball of the 12th over, when he ended a 19-ball boundary drought with a six over fine leg.

Dube then ignited in the 13th over against Colin Ackermann, hammering two sixes and a four after a slow start. However, Kyle Klein struck back in the 14th over, dismissing Suryakumar for 34 off 28 balls, bringing Hardik Pandya to the crease just before the death overs.

Hardik struggled with his timing, but Dube batted as if in a different league. Accelerating from 6 off 11 balls, he raced to a half-century off 25 deliveries. Netherlands' bowlers offered a buffet of poor deliveries at the death—full tosses and slot balls—which Dube dispatched over mid-wicket and long-on.

He targeted Logan van Beek in a 20-run 17th over, hit Klein for a four in the 18th, and struck another six off van Beek in the 20th before being caught on the fine leg boundary for 66 off 31 balls. Hardik, despite inconsistent timing, managed three sixes in his 30 off 21 balls. India added 75 runs in the last five overs, setting a challenging target.

In reply, Netherlands opener Max O'Dowd survived Jasprit Bumrah in the PowerPlay but was bowled by Varun CV in the sixth over. Hardik then removed Michael Levitt as the chase lost direction. Colin Ackermann injected brief momentum with a couple of sixes, but Varun dismissed him and Aryan Dutt off consecutive deliveries. Dube, despite conceding runs, broke through to remove Bas de Leede for 33 off 23 balls.

At the start of the death overs, Netherlands lost Scott Edwards to Bumrah but fought back aggressively to reduce the deficit. Noah Croes and Zach Lion-Cachet took 11 runs off Washington Sundar, 12 off Arshdeep Singh, and 18 off Hardik before Dube broke the stand in the final over. Netherlands ultimately fell short by 17 runs.

Brief Scores:
India 193/6 in 20 overs (Shivam Dube 66; Aryan Dutt 2-19) beat Netherlands 176/7 in 20 overs (Zach Lion-Cachet 26, Noah Croes 25*; Varun CV 3-14) by 17 runs.