Memes Galore As Bas de Leede Secures The Most Expensive Spell In ODI History

In cricketing history, there exist moments that carve themselves indelibly into the collective memory of fans around the globe. One such moment unfolded during the World Cup 2023 clash between the Netherlands and Australia on a momentous Wednesday, October 25th, in Delhi. Bas de Leede, donning the Netherlands jersey, had a day he would undoubtedly wish to erase from history. His performance on that fateful day etched his name into the record books, although not in the way he had aspired.

The name Bas de Leede will forever be intertwined with a cricketing performance that fans will deliberate for generations. He conceded an astonishing 115 runs during his allotted 10 overs in the ODI match, securing the unenviable record for the most expensive bowling spell in the history of One Day International cricket.

To comprehend the enormity of Bas de Leede’s achievement, or rather the lack thereof, one must revisit the previous record holder, Australia’s Mick Lewis. Lewis had set the record during a notorious South Africa vs. Australia ODI in Johannesburg, where both teams amassed over 400 runs in each inning.

De Leede’s spell had commenced with promise. In the initial phase, he appeared to hold his ground, maintaining a respectable economy rate. However, as the Australian batters settled into their rhythm, they began to target de Leede’s bowling, dispatching it for a barrage of boundaries. Despite adjustments to his line and length, de Leede was unable to stem the flow of runs, leading to an ever-increasing run rate.

It’s crucial to note that de Leede came tantalizingly close to reversing the tide in his favour when he almost dismissed the formidable David Warner. However, the third umpire’s decision overturned the appeal, compounding the Dutch all-rounder’s woes. De Leede did manage to claim the crucial scalps of Marnus Labuschagne and Josh Inglis. Yet, the mid-phase of his spell witnessed a relentless onslaught by the Australian batters, who had now acclimatized and grown confident against his bowling.

The final phase of Bas de Leede’s spell was nothing short of calamitous. Glenn Maxwell, in particular, developed an affinity for the Dutch all-rounder’s deliveries. Maxwell’s blistering performance saw him notch the fastest World Cup century, accomplishing it in style by pummeling de Leede for a barrage of boundaries and sixes. The Dutchman experimented with various strategies to break the Australian batsmen’s momentum but to no avail.

As the match concluded, Bas de Leede had inscribed his name in history by recording the most expensive spell in a World Cup match. This was a stark departure from Rashid Khan’s record in the 2019 World Cup when he conceded 110 runs without taking a single wicket during his nine overs against England.