Skipper Edwards powers Netherlands to series-levelling win over Oman

Netherlands leveled the series 1-1 after a dominant nine-wicket victory over Oman in the second One-Day International (ODI) at Sportpark Westvliet in The Hague on Tuesday (June 21).

Chasing a below-par 195, the hosts rode on skipper Scott Edwards’ career-best unbeaten 104 off 113 balls to overhaul the target with more than 17 overs to spare.

Edwards, who was dropped on 47 by Fayyaz Butt at deep midwicket off spinner Khawar Ali, hit nine fours and two sixes during his 13th ODI fifty.

He stitched 59 runs for the opening wicket with Max O’Dowd (27) and then shared an unbroken 134-run stand with Bas de Leede (56 off 67 balls) to seal the win.

Earlier, Oman rode on a 90-run stand for the second wicket between Jatinder Singh (64) and Khawar Ali (47) to post 194 in their allotted 50 overs after electing to bat.

Jatinder, who smashed seven fours during his 77-ball knock, added 37 for the third wicket with Aqib Ilyas (24) after opener Kashyap Prajapati (15) was dismissed cheaply.

Once Jatinder was caught by de Leede at backward square leg off Aryan Dutt, Oman lost wickets at regular intervals and were eventually bowled out in the 47th over.

Left-arm pacer Logan van Beek was the pick of the Dutch bowlers with figures of 3 for 36 while Dutt and Vivian Kingma picked up two wickets apiece.

The third and final ODI of the series will be played at the same venue on Thursday (June 23).