Logan van Beek rewrote the record book, smashing an unprecedented 30 runs in an ODI Super Over. He entered the scene with Netherlands struggling at 327 for 7, needing 47 runs of the last three overs to hunt down 375 against West Indies in the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier at Harare. Netherlands had lost two wickets in three balls and van Beek had Aryan Dutt, slotted at No. 9, for company. They added 44 runs off just 21 balls to help tie the scores off the penultimate ball. Alzarri Joseph dismissed van Beek off the last ball, taking the game into the Super Over.
Jason Holder had taken the diving catch that dismissed van Beek, and a rematch of sorts began, with van Beek coming out to face Holder alongside Scott Edwards. All the Netherlands captain had to do was claim the best seat in the house to witness pitch-perfect power-hitting that set up a fairytale win. Here's how ESPNcricinfo's ball-by-ball commentary recorded the action.
0.1, Holder to van Beek, FOUR runs What a start for Netherlands! Low full toss fired into off stump from around the wicket. Van Beek sits deep in his crease, gets enough power on his shot and shovels it through deep midwicket for four!
0.2, Holder to van Beek, SIX runs Clears the fence comfortably! Another low full toss outside off stump. Van Beek sits back to give himself enough leverage and absolutely clatters it over the long-on fence!
0.3, Holder to van Beek, FOUR runs Four more! Short and wide outside off stump. Van Beek hops up onto his toes, gets on top of the bounce and smears it past deep midwicket. 14 off the over already!
0.4, Holder to van Beek, SIX runs Clean as a whistle! Right in the slot outside off stump. Van Beek plants his front foot, swings through the line and wallops it over the wide-long-on fence. Such clean ball striking, under such pressure - wow!
Looks like the ball has taken so much of a pounding that it needs to be replaced
0.5, Holder to van Beek, SIX runs That is into the trees! Watch that ball sail! Another slot ball outside off stump and van Beek now seems to have gotten into the bowler's head. Another free swing and it goes miles over the deep-midwicket fence!
0.6, Holder to van Beek, FOUR runs Four to end the Super Over! Short and outside off stump. The ball seems to be ballooning over the batter's head until... van Beek leaps into the air like a salmon and mousses it past deep midwicket!
Phew, 30 runs came off that over. Holder, who has bowled so many overs under pressure, just could not handle van Beek. Edwards did not even have to face a ball and the West Indies will need something truly special to get past the line now.
In the end, it was too daunting a task with van Beek taking the responsibility with the ball as well. He removed Johnson Charles and Romario Shepherd as West Indies managed just eight runs, handing Netherlands two crucial points to carry over into the Super Six stage of the tournament.