Brief scores: Netherlands 247-5 (Levitt 135, Engelbrecht 75, Trumpelmann 2-46) beat Namibia 188-7 (Green 42*, Frylinck 42, Van der Gugten 2-26) by 59 runs
Opening batter Michael Levitt bludgeoned his way to an impressive 62-ball 135, the highest individual score by a Dutch batter in T20Is, as the Netherlands cantered to a second victory in as many days by thumping Namibia in the triangular series in Kirtipur (Kathmandu) on Thursday (February 29).
Levitt’s century, only the second by a Dutchman after Max O’Dowd’s 133 against Malaysia at the same venue three years ago, laid the foundation for a mammoth total of 247-5, the highest Dutch total in the format. In reply, the Namibian batters could only manage 188-7.
Playing just his second T20I after making 54 in a narrow 2-run win against hosts Nepal on Wednesday, the 20-year-old Voorburg batter carted eleven fours and ten sixes, scoring 104 runs in boundaries alone, setting another record by a Dutch batter.
At one point, he was batting on 26 off 25 balls before cruising to his century in the next 24 balls.
“That was some of the best striking I have ever seen. It was unbelievable to see from a guy playing just his second game”, captain Scott Edwards said after the game.
After losing Max O’Dowd in the third over, Levitt was involved in a 193-run partnership for the second wicket, the highest-ever for the Netherlands, with his club captain Sybrand Engelbrecht, who slammed a 40-ball 75.
Teja Nidamanuru provided the finishing fireworks, striking three sixes off as many deliveries as left-arm seamer Jan Frylinck gave up 57 runs in his four overs.
Requiring a record chase of 248, Namibia failed to keep up with the run-rate to eventually fall short by 59 runs. Timm van der Gugten picked two wickets while Vivian Kingma continued his impressive tour with another economical outing (1-26).
The Dutch are currently undefeated in the tri-series and will play back-to-back games over the weekend against both the opponents before the final on Tuesday.
All games are live streamed on SportsEye’s YouTube channel.
