Scott Edwards: It’s awesome

The Netherlands’ Max O’Dowd en route his 52 v Zimbabwe. Pics/AFP

Paul van Meekeren's three wickets helped The Netherlands claim their first victory of the T20 World Cup Super 12 stage on Wednesday as their five-wicket win all but eliminated Zimbabwe.

The Dutch, who are already out of the semi-final race, bowled out Zimbabwe for 117 in 19.2 overs at the Adelaide Oval and, led by Max O'Dowd's 52, achieved their target by reaching 120-5 with 12 balls to spare. "It's awesome," said captain Scott Edwards. "We came here to win some games at the Super 12. Good to get the ball rolling after a rocking start."

The Netherlands' Paul van Meekeren (second from right) celebrates the wicket of Zimbabwe opener Wessly Madhevere yesterday

O'Dowd and Tom Cooper, who made 32, put on a second-wicket stand of 73 to guide the team home as the fans poured in for the evening match of the Adelaide double-header between India and Bangladesh.

"I was quite scrappy at the start. It was important to adapt to the wicket," said player of the match O'Dowd. "Zimbabwe have some tall boys, so they have extra bounce. I took time to adapt, but eventually adapted well to bat as long as I could."

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Stephan Myburgh fell to Blessing Muzarabani for eight in the fourth over before O'Dowd and Cooper began to score freely chasing a modest 118-run target.

Luke Jongwe had Cooper caught out to end a 29-ball knock, which included two fours and a six. O'Dowd reached his second fifty of the tournament with two straight boundaries but soon got out to Muzarabani and Richard Ngarava sent back skipper Scott Edwards but Bas de Leede stood firm to hit the winning four.

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