Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul both hit hundreds as World Cup hosts India moved to the semi-finals with a smashing 160-run victory against the Netherlands in Bengaluru on Sunday, keeping their clean record of nine group wins unbroken.
After his teammates had left after effortless fifties on a fine M Chinnaswamy Stadium pitch, Iyer (128) smashed his fourth ODI ton before Rahul (102) burst to take India to 410-4 on the Hindu holiday of Diwali.
The bottom-placed Dutch team needed an unprecedented World Cup pursuit to win and received promising openings from Max O’Dowd (30), Colin Ackermann (35), Teja Nidamanuru (54), and Sybrand Engelbrecht (45), but they never challenged and were bowled for 250 in 47.5 overs.
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The Rundown: India vs Netherlands
India extended their great run by beating the Netherlands smoothly in the 45th game of the ICC World Cup 2023. Choosing to bat first, the Dutch faced a formidable target of 411 runs, and despite Teja Nidamanuru’s courageous 54, the Dutch were bowled out for 250. India’s batsmen were KL Rahul (102 off 64 balls) and Shreyas Iyer (128 off 94 balls).
Indian Bowlers Complement Batting Performance with Impressive Display
Skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli both claimed fifties and 51 from Shubman Gill. Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja and other two players get two wickets each in the bowling side.
Virat Kohli’s immediate penetration set the pace, and Rohit Sharma’s decision paid off. Part-timers, including Shreyas Iyer and Shubman Gill, among the Indian bowlers, joined in and contributed to the team’s victory.
The Indian bowlers proved their dominance, which supported their strong batting effort. The convincing victory maintained India unbeaten in the competition and demonstrated the team’s outstanding all-around prowess.
Virat Kohli’s overall effort, which included a wicket and a crucial half-century, was critical to India’s victory. Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul’s magnificent performances, combined with additional significant performances, make India an overwhelming contender moving into the World Cup semifinal round.
Perfect Partnership Dynamics Against Dutch Bowlers
Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul put on a batting clinic in the crucial match over the Netherlands, putting on a 208-run stand for the fourth wicket. Their partnership was critical in moving India above the 400-run barrier.
Particularly, Shreyas Iyer began his World Cup quest with a brilliant century, while KL Rahul made records by scoring the quickest hundred by an Indian in the World Cup.
The two of them displayed outstanding coordination, perfectly complementing one another’s skills. Their attack on the Dutch bowlers was harsh, with significant contributions from key pacers.
They got 65 runs on 30 balls against Van Beek. Bas de Leede faced a similar onslaught, allowing 58 runs off 41 balls. Rahul and Iyer scored 43 runs off 25 balls, putting pressure on Paul van Meekeren.
Player of the Game: Shreyas Iyer
Unlike his performance at the Eden Gardens, it was Shreyas Iyer at his open-ended peak. The main point that he had to guarantee was never to throw away his wicket.
The ‘Player of the Match’ would perform a single motion at the non-striker’s finish of his impressive 128. It consisted of shadow batting but with a twist to it. He’d touch the bat, hold it up, and peek above his shoulder to make sure the handle was straight to the floor and not vertically below his shoulders, as it had been since the World Cup began.
He’d then begin his downward bat swing, as if taking a short ball, paying close attention to make sure the bat came down horizontally to his face. He kept doing this maneuver until the end of the inning.
India v Netherlands Score
| India | Netherlands |
| 410/4(50 overs) | 250(47.5 overs) |
| India beat the Netherlands by 160 runs to end the league stage unblemished | |
India’s flawless World Cup run continues with a commanding ninth consecutive victory, emphasizing their domination in the competition.
The success of the team is due to an effective mix of collaboration and outstanding individual efforts. The batsmen, notably Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul, showed versatility against a number of bowlers.
Their partnership, which was particularly effective against pacemakers, was critical to India’s amazing total.
The dream run not only demonstrates their cricketing prowess but also provides the setting for a high-stakes encounter against New Zealand, in which India seeks to prolong their World Cup victorious run.
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