3 Reasons Why the NED Lost to BAN in the 2nd T20 of Netherlands tour of Bangladesh 2025

The Netherlands came into the second T20I in Sylhet with a glimmer of optimism after a competitive first match, but that was short-lived under the onslaught of the Bangladeshis. Chasing a modest target of 104 after being all out for 103, it seemed like there was no imminent danger when early signs of danger emerged when Max O’Dowd holed out in the second over.

The batting collapse from there was so pronounced it looked choreographed, losing wickets like dominoes and seeming incapable of establishing a partnership that might salvage the innings.

Top-Order Collapse Sealed Their Fate

The first reason for the Dutch failure was the dreadful collapse at the top of the order. After O’Dowd fell, Teja Nidamanuru was following shortly after, and defeat had begun to spark. Vikramjit Singh had a brief dig in resisting 24 from 17 balls, but skipper Scott Edwards could offer no more resistance and lost his wicket cheaply to Mustafizur Rahman.

By the time the tenth over rolled around, the Netherlands had lost seven for 65 – their innings was like a house of cards blown away in the lightest of zephyrs. The batsmen looked almost indifferent to the minuscule amounts of variation and turn, freely giving their wickets away and choking off any chance of a partnership. The scorebook never posed a threat to Bangladesh, with almost no margin for error.

Nasum Ahmed’s Spell Turned the Tide

The second major reason for their win was Nasum Ahmed’s magical spell, decimating the Dutch batting line-up like lightning. His four overs were a masterclass in leg-spin, with three wickets and just 21 runs conceded, turning the chase into a daunting task. By removing the opening batsmen O’Dowd and Nidamanuru on the first and second balls of his innings, he had already put the Dutch batsmen on the back foot.

Van Meekeren’s dismissal as the third wicket came via a sharp LBW that demanded full concentration. Bangladesh’s pace attack strangled the scoring with Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman, and never allowed anyone to settle – even when they set up what was evidently a chase that was always under control.

Lack of Adaptability and Momentum

In the end, situational factors amplified the Dutch disaster. The Sylhet pitch turned and bounced just enough to demonstrate just how limited the visitors’ ability to adapt was. There were not many fielding blunders, but relying on only a few batsmen meant the visitors were left vulnerable, especially when they lost their top-order; they had no contingency plan set to look forward to.

Aryan Dutt‘s late slog of 30 not out could not paper over the middle order’s failure to rotate the strike, build any momentum, or ever look threatening, and whilst extras like wides were slightly inconvenient, they were more of a nuisance than a source of pressure on Bangladesh. Ultimately, the Dutch were limited by their rigidity and allowed a somewhat manageable target to get away from them, without ever actually playing in the spirit of the contest.

FAQs

Why did the Netherlands lose the match?

The Netherlands’ loss stemmed from early collapses, Nasum Ahmed’s impact, and their failure to adapt to the conditions.

What was the target set by the Netherlands?

The Netherlands set a target of 104 runs.

Which Netherlands batsman tried to fight back in the innings?

Aryan Dutt scored 30 off 24 balls but couldn’t save the innings.