Netherlands all-rounder Sybrand Engelbrecht announces retirement from international cricket

Netherlands cricketer Sybrand Engelbrecht has announced his retirement from international cricket following his team's first-round exit from the T20 World Cup 2024. Netherlands' defeat against Sri Lanka on Monday (June 17) saw them crash out of the tournament without participating in the Super Eight stage.

Although a win would not have been enough for the Dutch team to qualify as Bangladesh had a better net run rate than them, they got nowhere close to a win against Sri Lanka. They suffered a massive 83-run defeat and Engelbrecht managed just 11 off 9 balls in the final match of his international career. 

Engelbrecht, who made his debut in 2023, has represented the European country in 24 matches - 12 T20Is and 12 ODIs - and has amassed 665 runs and took five wickets. Notably, he played in each of the Netherlands' four matches at the ongoing T20 World Cup. His contribution of 14 runs in a tight chase against Nepal was crucial in their only win in the tournament. 

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Engelbrecht signs off with a blinder against Sri Lanka

The 35-year-old could not make his last tournament memorable. Despite getting off to a good start in almost every match, the right-hander failed to convert them into big scores. His highest score was 33 off 22 balls against Bangladesh, in which the team lost by 25 runs.

However, Engelbrecht managed to grab the limelight in his farewell game against Sri Lanka with a magnificent effort near the boundary line. In the second ball of the 17th over, Lankan all-rounder Angelo Mathews hit a full toss to the deep mid-wicket boundary. Realising that the ball would easily fly over the ropes, Engelbrecht made a full-stretch jump to grab it and flicked back into the field before landing over the boundary cushions.

Notably, Engelbrecht was the leading run-getter for the side in the 2023 ODI World Cup. The South African-born cricketer amassed 300 runs in eight innings at an average of 37.50 at a strike-rate of 66.66, including two half-centuries. He was instrumental in the Netherlands' impressive campaign in India with his batting and fielding prowess.