Definitely wouldn’t say it was easy: Max O'Dowd on win against Nepal

The Netherlands had to really fight it out in the run-chase despite bundling Nepal out for just 106 in the first innings. Max O'Dowd remained unbeaten on 54 off 48 and took the Netherlands over the line in their opening match of the 2024 T20 World Cup in Dallas on June 4 (Tuesday).

“I definitely wouldn’t say it was easy and a World Cup win is amazing, any World Cup win is great. And I think our bowlers bowled extremely well to restrict them to 106 but you see Nepal have so much fight and spirit that they managed to bring it down to what it was. I don't think it was ever a case of it being an easy win,” said the opening batter. 

“Personally, I felt like I really had to think about what was best for the team in certain situations and you could see the pressure they were putting on, the way they field. I think they're one of the best fielding units in the world. So, they put a lot of pressure on us and definitely didn't make it easy. But I'm just happy that we managed to get over the line.”

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O'Dowd crafted four fours and a six in his 48-ball knock and finished the job with eight deliveries to spare. Vikramjit Singh (22 off 28), Sybrand Engelbrecht (14 off 16) and Bas de Leede (11* off 10) also chipped in with decent cameos. “I think every guy that came in kind of wanted me to keep batting, and I wanted to keep batting, but obviously with that big breeze, it was more selecting when we thought the right time would be to attack. 

“So, for us, I mean we needed six runs and over and I think we felt pretty comfortable going at six runs an over and then we knew that there would be an over or two where we could get a couple of boundaries. Probably we left it a little bit late, but a win’s a win.”

In the first innings, Tim Pringle and Logan van Beek picked up three wickets each, while Paul van Meekeren and de Leede took two apiece to restrict Nepal to a below-par total. The Men in Orange have now regularly been featuring in ICC events and O'Dowd said it all boils down to consistency. 

“I think it probably comes down to consistency. Consistency in games, consistency in the way we play, the way we train and always just trying to get better. As cliche as it sounds, that's what it's really all about. Obviously, with Ryan Cook at the helm, having a guy like that leading that. 

“Our aim is to become a good - from where we are now, a good team, to become a great team. And there are many little things that we need to do, whether that's fitness, whether that's extra fielding, extra batting, whatever it looks like. It's just putting in the work and we've been doing that for the last year and a half I think leading into India. So yeah, it's just continuing that.”

Many Nepal fans were present at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas and their presence made it feel like the two teams were playing at the Tribhuvan University International Stadium in Nepal. “It was very similar to TU. I think there's probably another 10,000 in the TU, so it was a little bit different. But playing in front of fans like that is, I think, a privilege. I think it's amazing. 

“It's not something we get to do often as an associate cricketer and that's why I always love playing against Nepal - in Nepal as well. But for me, it's just I guess trusting the processes that I have and I feel like a lot of us guys are probably quite similar. We have nerves and stuff before the games. You see the crowd. It kind of builds up. But then once you step over that line, it's just another game of cricket, really. And you try not to let it annoy you or get in your head.” 

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