Bas de Leede led the best way with an unbeaten half-century because the Netherlands cruised to a seven-wicket victory over Namibia, registering their opening triumph within the ICC Males’s T20 World Cup 2026 at Arun Jaitley Stadium on Tuesday.
Chasing Namibia’s goal of 157, the Netherlands completed at 159-3 in 18 overs. De Leede top-scored with a superb 72 off 48 balls, together with 5 fours and 4 sixes.
Opener Michael Levitt performed a vital knock of 28 off 15 balls, that includes one 4 and three sixes.
Colin Ackermann added a beneficial 32 off 28 deliveries, whereas skipper Scott Edwards remained unbeaten on 18 from 9 balls, hitting a 4 and a six.
Batting first, Namibia bought off to a shaky begin as spinner Aryan Dutt claimed the prized wicket of Louren Steenkamp, who managed simply six runs off as many balls, together with one boundary.
Jan Frylinck and Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton steadied the innings, constructing a 50-run stand for the second wicket.
The partnership was damaged when Frylinck fell to Logan van Beek for a vital 30 off 26 deliveries, which included three fours and one six, leaving Namibia at 60-2 in 9.1 overs.
Loftie-Eaton continued to anchor the innings, receiving assist from skipper Gerhard Erasmus. The pair added 35 runs earlier than Erasmus was dismissed by Bas de Leede in his first over, scoring 18 off 9 balls, together with two fours and one six.
Loftie-Eaton remained in good type however fell wanting a T20I fifty, ending on 42 off 38 deliveries with one 4 and two sixes, as Namibia slipped to 107-4 in 14.3 overs.
Later, JJ Smit contributed a quickfire 22 off 15 balls, together with one boundary and two sixes, earlier than falling to Bas de Leede, who claimed his second wicket of the match.
Fred Klaassen additionally fell for 9 off 10 deliveries to depart Namibia struggling at 137-6 within the 18th over.
Ruben Trumpelmann briefly lifted the rating with a six off his first supply however was finally run out after a mix-up, ending with 9 off eight balls.
Namibia managed eight runs within the remaining over to succeed in a defendable complete.
For the Netherlands, Bas de Leede and Logan van Beek took two wickets every, whereas Aryan Dutt and Fred Klaassen claimed one wicket apiece.
Enjoying XI
Namibia: Lourens Steenkamp, Jan Frylinck, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Gerhard Erasmus (c), JJ Smit, Zane Inexperienced (wk), Dylan Leicher, Ruben Trumpelmann, Willem Myburgh, Bernard Scholtz, Max Heingo.
Netherlands: Michael Levitt, Max O’Dowd, Bas de Leede, Colin Ackermann, Scott Edwards (c/wk), Zach Lion-Cachet, Logan van Beek, Aryan Dutt, Roelof van der Merwe, Timm van der Gugten, Fred Klaassen.
