New Delhi

A composed and methodical bowling effort from the Netherlands kept Namibia to a manageable 156 for 8 in their Group A T20 World Cup encounter here on Tuesday, despite a brief middle-overs revival by the African side.

Playing their first match of the tournament, Namibia appeared short of match practice, having last featured in a T20I during their dramatic last-ball win over South Africa in October 2025. That rustiness showed early as they struggled to gain momentum.

Though the stands were thinly filled in the absence of Indian interest, the contest between the two associate sides offered competitive cricket. Jan Frylinck (30) and Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton (42) stabilised the innings with a steady 50-run partnership after early damage.

The Netherlands struck early through disciplined new-ball bowling. Pacer Logan van Beek (2/13) extracted good bounce and movement, while off-spinner Aryan Dutt (1/13) delivered a tight spell that restricted scoring.

Dutt drew first blood by deceiving Nikolaas Davin Steenkamp (6), who advanced down the track but was beaten in flight and turn, allowing wicketkeeper Scott Edwards to effect a swift stumping.

Namibia found runs hard to come by during the powerplay, managing just 29 runs in the first five overs. Only one six was struck in that phase, Frylinck briefly easing the pressure by pulling Klaassen over the ropes.

Edwards turned to Colin Ackermann in search of another breakthrough, but both Frylinck and Loftie-Eaton negotiated him confidently. Loftie-Eaton launched the off-spinner straight for six, while Frylinck pierced the covers for a boundary.

Just as the partnership began to lift Namibia, van Beek returned to break it, drawing an edge from Frylinck to the wicketkeeper.

Captain Gerhard Erasmus then injected urgency into the innings. He took on Tim van der Gugten, collecting 16 runs from a single over to propel Namibia past the 100-run mark in the 13th over.

Edwards countered with astute bowling changes, shuffling between pace and spin and employing as many as eight bowlers to curb any sustained acceleration.

With Namibia hoping Loftie-Eaton would anchor the final overs, van Beek struck once more, dismissing the set batter and making amends for his expensive penultimate over against Pakistan earlier in the tournament.

JJ Smit (22) attempted a late flourish, smashing Roelof van der Merwe for consecutive sixes, but Bas de Leede ended the cameo by dislodging the bails with a quicker delivery.

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Lacking a final surge, Namibia finished with a total that the Netherlands will fancy chasing under the conditions.