Australia v Netherlands: Cricket World Cup 2023 – live

42nd over: Australia 288-5 (Maxwell 14, Green 7) Van Meekeren replaces van Beek but while the names may change the game remains the same. Full and straight from the Netherlands, and driven back from whence it came by Maxwell and Green. Only one blow reaches the fence though as the Dutch fielding continues to impress.

41st over: Australia 282-5 (Maxwell 9, Green 6) The Netherlands continue bowling full and straight, and Australia continue trying to belt boundaries down the ground. And this over they accomplish their goal. Green and Maxwell punch fours through the non-striker, then the latter opens the blade and pierces the field near extra-cover.

40th over: Australia 268-5 (Maxwell 0, Green 1) Excellent dedication from the Netherlands, sticking to their task in the field despite the runs Australia have been piling on. Van Beek backs up his wicket with a series of dots to Green who repeatedly tries and fails to clatter length deliveries forward of square.

“Can’t help feeling that a chasing team ‘… won by 5 wickets …’ in limited-overs matches is a bit meaningless,” emails Will Wroth. “When the constraint is number of balls faced, ‘… won by 3 overs …’ makes more sense. In 2-innings games wickets really is key, as if you run out of time, it’s a draw, but not in 50/20-over contests.

Yesterday’s Bangladeshi win over Pakistan is a case in point: we were only waiting to see if they would get the runs in time, and weren’t interested in wickets once they got towards the finishing line. My brother Charles agrees, suggesting that ‘ ... reached the target with 1.2 overs to spare (and 8 wkts in hand) …’ would be much more descriptive of how they actually did it. Waddyathink?”

What I think, Will, is that cricket is an inherently stupid exercise, and applying logic to it is a fools errand.

WICKET! Warner c Dutt b van Beek 104 (Australia 266-5)

WICKET! Inglis c Engelbrecht b de Leede 14 (Australia 266-4)

100 to David Warner!

38th over: Australia 259-3 (Warner 98, Inglis 13) Canny from Inglis, guiding van Beek behind point for an early single to bring Warner onto strike. The crowd senses the moment, but the Australian veteran calmly taps away a single, happy to delay the inevitable. And we’re all grateful he did because back on strike Josh Inglis belts one of the most vicious shots I have ever seen. Wow! Just short of a length from van Beek and Inglis gets his hands through a whipped pull so quickly the ball is in the stands before the TV director can cut to a wide angle. Stunning. Further singles are exchanged but still not century for Warner. He will be on strike at the start of the next over though.

37th over: Australia 249-3 (Warner 96, Inglis 5) Josh Inglis comes out at No 5 and he gets into his work quickly, pulling a de Leede bumper for four with excellent control. A single from the final deliver denies Warner the strike and the opportunity to bring up his ton. Warner has now faced just 87 of his side’s 222 deliveries.

WICKET! Labuschagne c Dutt b de Leede 62 (Australia 244-3)

36th over: Australia 244-2 (Warner 96, Labuschagne 62) Edwards makes the latest of myriad bowling changes this innings, recalling Dutt. Labuschagne responds by becoming the first Australian to leave his crease all afternoon, coming down the track and spanking a mighty straight six. He follows that up with a deft paddle sweep for four. Australia’s run-rate will soon climb over 7 rpo for the first time today.

35th over: Australia 231-2 (Warner 95, Labuschagne 50) Labuschagne brings up his half-century with a single, after a hard-run two to start the over. De Leede then bowls full and straight to Warner, keeping him scoreless.

34th over: Australia 228-2 (Warner 95, Labuschagne 47) Labuschagne is starting to work through the gears after bedding in. A flat sweep just clears the boundary for six, then two very fine glances run away for four – one to fine leg, the other just wide of the wicket-keeper on the off-side. For the second over in a row Labuschagne farms the strike with a single, which made me check some stats. There have been 204 legal deliveries today, of which Warner has only faced 81. I wonder if this has been accidental or by design?

33rd over: Australia 213-2 (Warner 95, Labuschagne 32) De Leede comes back for his second spell after proving costly earlier, and he begins by inviting Warner to pound a half-volley through the covers. He’s then unfortunate to see a good delivery edged to third for four by Labuschagne. There was a suggestion it could have hit the Australian’s pad, not bat, so Edwards invites the third umpire to take a closer look. THE REVIEW reveals a very clear and very crucial edge.

32nd over: Australia 203-2 (Warner 90, Labuschagne 27) Van der Merwe comes back into the attack. Australia show plenty of intent against his left-arm spin but yet again find a well-set field and dynamic Dutchmen in their way.

31st over: Australia 199-2 (Warner 88, Labuschagne 26) Since the mayhem of half-an-hour or so ago it’s all felt a bit middle-overs, with rhythmless action and a distracted crowd. But Labuschagne’s wristy pull off van Meekeren deserves everyone’s full attention. That was a textbook boundary.

“While I agree that Smith’s petulance is highly irritating,” begins John Starbuck, “you have to look at it in the round. Come the day when he’s on the chat show and after-dinner circuit he’ll be known as ‘a character’ because of such traits. How many fearsome players have you heard of who didn’t appear to revel in their reputation, once they retired?” Just as long as his booking doesn’t include him singing and playing the guitar.

30th over: Australia 192-2 (Warner 87, Labuschagne 21) Labuschagne eats up a couple of dots before punching Dutt away for a single. A TV graphic indicates its been 20 minutes since the last boundary. Maybe the Australian saw it, because he extends his arms and sweeps powerfully for four immediately afterwards – the first proactive stroke for a while.

29th over: Australia 185-2 (Warner 86, Labuschagne 15) Van Meekeren replaces van Beek and he quickly goes short to Warner to reprise the strategy that looked promising much earlier in the day. That’s followed up by a lovely loopy slower ball, then a change of angle, shifting from around to over the wicket. Excellent, skilful, thoughtful bowling.

28th over: Australia 180-2 (Warner 83, Labuschagne 14) Australia struggle to get Dutt away. The run-rate has been over six for most of the day, but fireworks have been scattered rather than sustained.

27th over: Australia 176-2 (Warner 82, Labuschagne 11) The Netherlands continue to field like their lives depend on it. They have been inspirational in the ring this afternoon. Van Beek is the bowler who benefits from the latest sharp stop at point, and he channels that intensity by slipping in a bouncer that crashes onto Labuschagne’s lid. The batter is unhurt but there’s a delay for a change of helmet.

26th over: Australia 173-2 (Warner 80, Labuschagne 10) Labuschagne has looked busy straight away at the crease and he adds to his ones and twos with a delightful reverse sweep for four.

“Getting tired of Smith’s petulance,” emails Ross McGillivray. “When does standing at the wicket shaking the head and then walking off shaking it some more count as dissent? I hope that If a kid did it in junior cricket he would be spoken to sternly by his coach, but Smith seems to be untouchable.”

25th over: Australia 166-2 (Warner 79, Labuschagne 4) The pace of van Beek is recalled to the attack and he hits good areas to keep Australia watchful.

24th over: Australia 162-2 (Warner 78, Labuschagne 1) Phew! It’s all happening out there. Five deliveries, two brilliant pieces of fielding from van der Merwe, two appeals, one given. The upshot is Marnus Labuschagne has plenty of time to demonstrate he should not make way for the returning Travis Head.

WICKET! Smith c van der Merwe b Dutt 71 (Australia 160-2)

23rd over: Australia 158-1 (Warner 77, Smith 69) Smith gets in on the whole six-hitting lark, hooking a de Leede bouncer over fine leg. He didn’t get all of it, but the fielder was nowhere near a catch on a short boundary. The follow-up is a better shot, but worth only two-thirds of the value, with a clip off his pads that bisects the two men sweeping on the legside. Strike rotated, Warner continues the onslaught, bullying de Leede through midwicket with disdain. THEN HE’S OUT! WHAT A CATCH! The Netherlands have fielded superbly all afternoon and van der Merwe has made it count, flying to his right at short cover to pouch a ferocious drive.

Hmmmmm. He did catch the ball in mid-air like Superman, but as he landed the ball – clutched in his outstretched right hand – appeared to make contact with the ground. Not dissimilar to the Mitchell Starc one in the Ashes that everyone dealt with very maturely. For most of the history of cricket that was out, but the technology now means replays can isolate enough pixels to introduce doubt, the benefit of which goes to the batter. Another let-off for David Warner, who pounds a four behind point for good measure.

That was quite the over.

22nd over: Australia 139-1 (Warner 69, Smith 58) Warner greets van der Merwe to the crease for his second over by whomping a six, with the spin, in his arc, miles over cow corner. That was pure. Just a couple of singles from the following five deliveries.

21st over: Australia 131-1 (Warner 62, Smith 57) Bas de Leede, wearing the No 5, is bowler number seven for the Netherlands. And his opening over of right-arm heavy balls banged on a length goes for seven, more than half of which come from a typical Smith whip into the on-side.

20th over: Australia 124-1 (Warner 60, Smith 52) Roelof van der Merwe is the sixth man into the Netherlands attack. Australia work his left-arm finger spin comfortably for five straightforward runs.

19th over: Australia 119-1 (Warner 58, Smith 49) Nice bowling from Ackermann, restricting Australia to singles with his changes of pace and angles of attack.

18th over: Australia 115-1 (Warner 56, Smith 47) Make that two sixes for David Warner. Following that run-out reprieve he looks like he’s had enough of occupying the crease and takes Singh downtown for a clean maximum, following it up with a crisp four along the same line, then a muscular crunch through the covers off the back foot. The man is a world cup run machine. My advice to any teams playing Australia is to get him out when they have the chance.

Singh’s figures no longer deserve highlighting.

17th over: Australia 96-1 (Warner 38, Smith 46) Yes! No! Waiting! Gah! David Warner should be out. After all that praise about the Dutch fielding, O’Dowd failed to gather a routine stop at midwicket in the ring off the first ball after drinks. Warner made it down to the non-striker’s end, only for Smith not to repay the compliment. O’Dowd had an age to gather and find the keeper’s gloves but he fluffed his lines. True to form in his charmed tournament so far, Warner responds by slogging the day’s first six.

16th over: Australia 90-1 (Warner 32, Smith 46) Despite bowling as innocuously as you could imagine at this level of international cricket, Vikramjit Singh ends his third over with figures of 0/11. Australia simply cannot get him away, and when they can, they find a superb troupe of fielders placed perfectly.

Time for a drink.

15th over: Australia 88-1 (Warner 31, Smith 45) The opening offie Ackermann is back for another whirl and Australia struggle to get him away. Just three singles from the over.

14th over: Australia 85-1 (Warner 30, Smith 43) Singh continues with his appetising wobblers, one of which is a legside wide, and another would be an offside one but for Smith hanging out a telescopic bat. Somehow it takes until the 11th legal delivery of his spell before he concedes a boundary, and it arrives when Warner works the ball off his hip through square leg.

13th over: Australia 80-1 (Warner 26, Smith 42) Close! Van Meekeren continues his bouncer barrage to Warner and he almost gets his man for a second time at the start of the over. Short and quick around off stump, Warner goes for the pull but can only loop a top-edge that lands safely behind the backpedaling square-leg. Smith has so far not looked like getting out, and he continues on his merry way with another four off his hip behind square on the legside.

Around that there’s some superb fielding by Max O’Dowd at cover, the latest in a series of excellent stops by the Dutch ring. The Netherlands have looked very sharp in the field, very switched on with the ball and very astute with their tactics.

12th over: Australia 71-1 (Warner 24, Smith 36) Vikramjit Singh introduces his gentle swingers to the attack, and despite the lack of menace out of the hand, in the air, or off the pitch, Australia only muster three singles.

11th over: Australia 68-1 (Warner 22, Smith 35) Van Meekeren switches to a short-pitched line of attack and it befuddles Smith and Warner. The over only goes for two singles, and almost jagged Warner’s wicket with a bumper skimming the gloves as it beat an attempted pull shot. I’m sure Australia’s much much faster pace attack won’t mind seeing that.

10th over: Australia 66-1 (Warner 21, Smith 34) A couple of quiet overs are followed by a bountiful one for Australia. Van Beek gets too straight to Smith (which means anything legside of an imaginary fifth stump) and finds himself pulled for four, glanced fine for four, and whipped away for four, all behind square on the on-side.

9th over: Australia 53-1 (Warner 21, Smith 21) Another tidy over for the Dutch with van Meekeren hitting good areas and conceding only two singles.

8th over: Australia 51-1 (Warner 20, Smith 20) From around the wicket, van Beek hits a good length, angling the ball into Warner, keeping the opener honest on the crease. Just one from the over.

7th over: Australia 50-1 (Warner 19, Smith 20) Van Meekeren’s first delivery is a massive legside wide. After which, Warner jogs down to ask umpire Michael Gough a question. His DRS stats maybe? A defensive stroke later there’s another delay because the splice of Warner’s bat has separated from the blade. A single brings Smith on strike and that means runs. Two are driven through midwicket, four are pulled, and four more – the most handsome of the lot – are ladled through extra-cover. This is the definition of a batter hitting themself into form.

6th over: Australia 38-1 (Warner 18, Smith 10) Smith gets more runs – two this time – with another unconvincing stroke, this time stepping miles to off and shovelling an uppish nothing shot to the vacant midwicket region. Thereafter he’s more the Smith of old, drilling a couple of sumptuous straight drives straight to fielders then timing a four off his hip when van Beek loses his line and length.

5th over: Australia 30-1 (Warner 18, Smith 2) It’s a double-pace bowling change with Paul van Meekeren’s seamers replacing Dutt’s offies. He’s immediately on a textbook line and length over the wicket to Smith, and just as with the last over, four dots afre followed by a loose attacking shot. This one squirts just wide of the diving point and away for a single. Excellent couple of overs for the Netherlands.

4th over: Australia 29-1 (Warner 18, Smith 1) Steve Smith, under a little pressure, gets off the mark straight away with a single.

WICKET! Marsh c Ackermann b van Beek 9 (Australia 28-1)

3rd over: Australia 27-0 (Warner 18, Marsh 9) The first shot in anger almost brings about a wicket! Warner doesn’t get to the pitch of an attempted off-drive, dragging an inside edge onto his boot and almost onto his pegs. He dwells on his good fortune for no seconds, carving the next four deliveries for four – three behind point, one just in front – as Dutt errs a fraction short on his fourth stump line. The Delhi feast is underway.

2nd over: Australia 11-0 (Warner 2, Marsh 9) Spin from both ends with Colin Ackermann taking the second new ball. Over the wicket to the right-handed Marsh, around to the left-handed Warner, there’s no spin to speak of, but the line and length is impeccable and he concedes just three singles. Again, Australia keep their expansive shots in the locker for the time being.

1st over: Australia 8-0 (Warner 0, Marsh 8) I like idea of opening with an offie and beginning Australia’s trial by spin as soon as possible. Unfortunately for the Netherlands, there’s no spin to speak of, and consequently no early breakthrough, with Marsh leaning into a gentle cover drive for four, then thick-edging four more through third. Nothing expansive but still a healthy start for the Aussies.

Also to add, Australia are wearing black armbands today to pay their respects to Fawad Ahmed whose young son died this week.

Now the players are on their way to the middle. David Warner and Mitch Marsh in vivid lemon yellow ready to face the unexpected off-spin of orange-clad Aryan Dutt. Here we go!

Anthem time in Delhi, during which I am distracted by how much Scott Edwards reminds me of Andy Murray.

A quick scan of Twitter (terrible idea) reveals Pakistan Cricket Twitter (yup) is fully behind the Dutch today, knowing Australia are now in the driving seat for that fourth semi-final spot. I’m sure that will be a calm corner of the internet for the next few hours.

This is only the third time Australia and the Netherlands have met in ODI cricket. Unsurprisingly, yellow bested orange by sizeable margins in 2003 & 2007.

Today’s pitch is the same one that was used for South Africa and Sri Lanka’s run-fest.

Netherlands XI

Australia XI

Australia won the toss and will bat first

It is a hazy afternoon in Delhi – one of those where the weather forecast is more about the air quality (not great, hazardous probably, bordering on dangerous). It’s hot, but at around 30C with “only” 50% humidity, not as inhospitable as other playing conditions we’ve seen this tournament.

The Arun Jaitley Stadium has been a batter’s paradise so far this world cup. First South Africa smashed a bunch of records against Sri Lanka, then India chased down 272 in 35 overs, before Afghanistan made England’s attack look inadequate during their stunning upset.

Win toss, bat first.

While Warner deserves credit for his savagery at the crease against Pakistan, he deserves opprobrium for his reluctance to accept his LBW dismissal against Sri Lanka. Warner was given out on-field, a decision confirmed by DRS, but still that wasn’t enough to soothe the 36-year-old veteran of 109 Tests and 154 ODIs.

Courtney Walsh addressed the subject of Warner suggesting the reason he missed a straight one is because Joel Wilson’s stats weren’t shown on the big screen before play. Or something.

Warner’s proposal, regardless of the motivation, could invite a ripple-down effect of ridicule. His assertion umpires are unaccountable is also contrary to fact. Performance is important and umpires can and are dropped, some of them with very public profiles.

Geoff Lemon was in Bengaluru to witness Australia’s world cup campaign ease through the gears against Pakistan, driven by the powerful David Warner.

Friday in Bengaluru was one of those David Warner days. Sure, he got glitter-bombed by the Luck Fairy when he was on 10, his second attacking swing of the bat looping to mid on where it was wildly, impossibly dropped by Usama Mir. But from there he savaged Pakistan’s bowling with a purity of hitting well matched in power and variety.

Preamble

Jonathan Howcroft