Canada batting attack crumbles in 63-run Cricket World Cup League 2 loss to the Dutch

Canada's batting attack, after a fast start, crumbled in a 63-run loss to the Netherlands in ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 play Saturday in Rotterdam.

Dutch pace bowler Paul van Meekeren did most of the damage, taking five wickets in 9.4 overs at the expense of 28 runs. Vivian Kingma took three wickets for 31 runs in seven overs.

Facing a victory target of 221, Canada was 59 for zero behind openers Aaron Johnson and Dilpreet Bajwa before the bottom fell out. Bedazzled by Kingma and van Meekeren, Canada lost six wickets for just 11 runs and was all out for 157 in the 36th over.

Wicketkeeper Shreyas Movva offered some resistance at the end of the Canadian innings, finishing at 47 not out. Movva hit four fours in his 72-ball knock.

"Middle order just didn't bat today, well apart from Movva," said newly appointed Canada captain Nicholas Kirton. "He played a pretty good hand."

"Credit to them, they bowled well," he added.

After opening League 2 play earlier this year with four straight wins in Dubai — beating Scotland and the host United Arab Emirates twice — the Canadians have lost three in a row, two to the host Netherlands and one to the U.S. in their second tri-nations series.

The Netherlands (5-2-0) moved into top spot in the table, displacing Scotland (4-2-0) with their fourth straight win. Canada (4-3-0) dropped to third.

The top four teams from the eight-country League 2, after play wraps up at the end of 2026, advance to a 10-team World Cup qualifier that will send four sides to the Cricket World Cup. The bottom four League 2 countries have a second bite at the apple via the World Cup Qualifier Playoff.

The field for the 2027 World Cup has been expanded to 14 teams, but 10 of those slots are already spoken for via