T20 World Cup: Netherlands beat Namibia by 7 wickets 

New Delhi (Web Desk): Bas de Leede starred with a commanding unbeaten half-century as the Netherlands cruised to a comfortable seven-wicket win over Namibia, securing their first victory of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium on Tuesday.

Chasing a target of 157 set by Namibia, the Dutch reached 159 for three in just 18 overs. De Leede led the chase with a brilliant 72 from 48 balls, connecting five fours and four sixes.

Opener Michael Levitt gave a lively start, scoring 28 off 15 deliveries, including three sixes and a boundary. Colin Ackermann added a steady 32 from 28 balls, while captain Scott Edwards remained not out on 18 off nine balls, hitting a four and a six to wrap up the win.

Namibia struggled early as spinner Aryan Dutt removed Louren Steenkamp for six from six balls, which included a single boundary. Jan Frylinck and Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton then stabilized the innings with a 50-run partnership for the second wicket, only for Frylinck to be caught by Logan van Beek after scoring 30 off 26 balls, which featured three fours and a six, leaving Namibia at 60 for two in just over nine overs.

Loftie-Eaton kept the innings moving alongside captain Gerhard Erasmus, adding 35 runs together before Erasmus fell to Bas de Leede in his first over, having scored 18 from nine balls, including two boundaries and a six. Loftie-Eaton stayed at the crease but couldn’t reach a fifty, finishing with 42 from 38 deliveries, as Namibia slipped to 107 for four in the 14th over.

In the final stages, JJ Smit played a quickfire 22 off 15 balls, hitting two sixes and a four before falling to de Leede’s second wicket. Fred Klaassen contributed nine runs from ten deliveries, leaving Namibia at 137 for six in the 18th over. Ruben Trumpelmann briefly lifted the scoring with a six off his first ball but was run out after a mix-up, finishing nine off eight balls. Namibia managed just eight runs in the last over, setting a target that proved manageable.

For the Netherlands, Bas de Leede and Logan van Beek took two wickets each, while Aryan Dutt and Fred Klaassen claimed one wicket apiece.

Teams

Netherlands: Michael Levitt, Max O'Dowd, Bas de Leede, Colin Ackermann, Scott Edwards (c/wk), Zach Lion-Cachet, Logan van Beek, Aryan Dutt, Roelof van der Merwe, Timm van der Gugten, Fred Klaassen.

Namibia: Lourens Steenkamp, Jan Frylinck, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Gerhard Erasmus (c), JJ Smit, Zane Green (wk), Dylan Leicher, Ruben Trumpelmann, Willem Myburgh, Bernard Scholtz, Max Heingo.