Van Meekeren says Pakistan did not win, Netherlands lost the game
Netherlands pacer Paul van Meekeren said his team lost to Pakistan in their T20 World Cup clash due to poor execution in the final overs. Faheem Ashraf’s unbeaten 29 off 11 balls sealed Pakistan’s three-wicket win in Colombo
Colombo: Netherlands pacer Paul van Meekeren said the team lost their T20 World Cup clash against Pakistan here on Saturday due to poor execution in the final overs, rather than their rivals winning the contest.
Chasing 148, Pakistan were 90/2 at the halfway stage but slipped to 114/7 in 16.1 overs, needing 34 more runs.
It looked all but over for Pakistan at that stage, but walking in at No 8, Faheem Ashraf — dropped on 7 — smashed an unbeaten 29 off just 11 balls.
Needing 29 runs from the last two overs, Ashraf hit three sixes and a four off Logan van Beek and sealed the match with a boundary in the final over as Pakistan reached 148/7 in 19.3 overs.
Max O’Dowd dropped Ashraf on 7 off the second ball of the 19th over.
“I want to be very clear. Pakistan didn’t win the game today. We lost the game against ourselves,” van Meekeren said at the post-match press conference.
“…we just probably didn’t execute the way we wanted to. These World Cup moments are about small margins, sometimes one ball. It’s a very disappointed feeling at the moment.”
He said Netherlands were a few runs short of a winning total but was proud of the overall effort.
“I’m very proud of the guys. We probably didn’t get the runs we wanted, but to fight back after a strong start from Pakistan shows the culture we’ve created in the team. They never give up.
“We weren’t the better team today, especially in the bowling department. We should have won the game. At one stage we were 123/4 after 15 overs.”
Van Meekeren, however, gave credit to Pakistan for holding their nerve.
“I think the one thing I have to give Pakistan credit for is taking the game deep. We should have done it with the bat, maybe taken the innings a little deeper,” he said.
He added that the Dutch would take heart from their performance and look to beat Namibia in their next match.
“There are a few guys disappointed in the change room. But we back them all the way for the next game. They just need to be the best they can be and win against Namibia,” he said.
Van Meekeren said the dropped catch of Ashraf was the turning point.
“Probably the last recognised batter. First ball goes for six and then Max O’Dowd dropped the catch. After that, it was six, six, four. Everyone knows that catch was where we lost the game.
“We lost against ourselves. We deserved to win. We should have sent Pakistan home today,” he observed.
