Vikram Singh hits maiden ODI century to help Netherlands beat Oman and keep World Cup dream alive
- Planet Sport writer
- 3 July 2023
Vikram Singh hit a maiden ODI century to help the Netherlands keep their World Cup hopes alive with a 74-run win (DLS) over Oman in the qualifiers.
Vikram Singh struck his first hundred in ODIs to help guide the Netherlands to a 74-run win (DLS) over Oman in the World Cup qualifiers.
Singh powered the Netherlands to a mammoth total as they set Oman a target of 363 after the European side lost the toss and sent in to bat.
Ayaan Khan responded with a ton of his own, but it proved in vain as Oman failed to pick up their first win of the Super Six stage.
The race for the second qualification spot will now go down to the wire, though Netherlands require Zimbabwe to lose against Scotland and to win their final game to stand any chance of making it through in the World Cup in India.
Netherlands' openers Singh and Max O'Dowd made a patient start, including sitting through a rain delay that shortened the match to 48 overs a side.
The duo's century partnership was brought up off 103 balls before O'Dowd was bowled by Ayaan Khan for 35, ending the stand at 117.
Singh continued to motor as he reached his maiden ODI century from 102 balls before he was eventually undone holing out to mid-on having made 110 with 11 fours and two sixes.
Scott Edwards could not add to his three consecutive scores of 67 as he was caught by Kaleemullah for four to become Mohammad Nadeem's second wicket.
With the Netherlands needing to improve their net run rate, Bas de Leede supercharged his side's scoring, making a quickfire 39 from 19.
Having reached his half-century off 43 balls, Wesley Barresi then powered to 97 from 65 balls before he was caught behind agonisingly close to a century.
Barresi was the first of three wickets in three overs as Oman mounted a mini-fightback but they could not stop the Netherlands reaching 362 for seven.
In pursuit of what would have been their record chase, Oman lost regular wickets with Jatinder Singh run out on 17 before fellow opener Kashyap Prajapati departed for 25 to leave Oman 78 for three.
After Mohammad Nadeem was bowled by Aryan Dutt for 16, Ayaan Khan and Shoaib Khan rebuilt, putting on 112 for the fifth wicket, but they could not stop their side from falling well behind the required run rate.
Ayaan Khan reached his hundred off 84 balls having benefitted from several slices of luck to get there as he was dropped three times early in his innings.
And the all-rounder was there at the end as bad light ended the game prematurely with Oman 74 runs from their DLS target.
The Netherlands now face an anxious wait to see if Zimbabwe defeat Scotland tomorrow before they take on Scotland on Thursday.
