Match facts
Wednesday, March 9, 2016
Start time 1500 local (0930 GMT)
Remember the time Netherlands chased down 190 in 13.5 overs at the World T20? © ICC
Big picture
Two years ago, the Netherlands needed to chase 190 runs in 14.2 overs against Ireland to qualify to the main draw of the World T20. Nobody gave them a chance during the ten-minute innings break before they took about an hour or so to prove everyone wrong. They did it in 13.5 overs.
Later in the tournament, they went on to beat England by 45 runs. If they are looking for inspiration this time round, they can look back to those two games. And that’s exactly their problem ahead of the clash against the in-form Bangladesh side. That win over England in Chittagong was also their last T20I against a Full Member.
Bangladesh will be a formidable opponent simply because of recent form. They are Asia Cup runners-up from three days ago, having beaten Pakistan and Sri Lanka in heady battles before going down to India in the final. Mashrafe Mortaza’s side has become a threat to nearly every team that has come their way since the end of 2014, with the likes of Sabbir Rahman, Mahmudullah, Mustafizur Rahman, Al-Amin Hossain and Taskin Ahmed becoming match-winners.
Mashrafe would want the likes of Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim to get back into batting form while Tamim Iqbal and Soumya Sarkar have shown they are hitting it off the middle of the bat.
Netherlands meanwhile have the likes of Stephan Myburgh, the Cooper brothers and a steady bowling attack, led by captain Peter Borren, to thwart Bangladesh who are slightly disadvantaged by arriving later than the Dutch in Dharamsala. Netherlands also have the memory of previously beating Bangladesh in T20I cricket to buoy them.
Form guide
Bangladesh LWWWL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Netherlands LWWWW
Watch out for
Taskin Ahmed bowled superbly in the Asia Cup final, and his late wicket and five-run over in the dying stages gave Bangladesh hope until MS Dhoni clattered Al-Amin Hossain for big sixes. Taskin has shown rare consistency at high pace, something his side has lacked for a long time.
Tom Cooper is back in orange as a last-minute addition, and is in the Netherlands squad for the first time since the 2014 World T20 where he finished as second highest run-getter. His experience would surely be crucial, especially against a Bangladesh bowling attack that has started well recently.
Team news
Whether Mustafizur Rahman will recovery from a side strain in time for the game is Bangladesh’s only concern, though they would also like to have a look at the Dharamsala pitch to decide if they want to go with a four-man pace attack.
Bangladesh (probable) 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Soumya Sarkar, 3 Sabbir Rahman, 4 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 5 Shakib Al Hasan, 6 Mahmudullah, 7 Nasir Hossain, 8 Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), 9 Al-Amin Hossain, 10 Arafat Sunny/Mustafizur Rahman, 11 Taskin Ahmed
Vivian Kingma and Pieter Seelaar could miss out, the latter to Roelof van der Merwe’s T20 experience. Either of Logan van Beek and Paul van Meekeren could be picked in the XI.
Netherlands (probable) 1 Stephan Myburgh, 2 Wesley Barresi (wk), 3 Ben Cooper, 4 Tom Cooper, 5 Roelof van der Merwe, 6 Tim van der Gugten, 7 Ahsan Malik, 8 Logan van Beek/Paul van Meekeren, 10 Peter Borren (capt), 11 Mudassar Bukhari
Pitch and conditions
After successive days of hailstorms in Dharamsala and snowfall in the mountains a little higher up, Tuesday was a quiet and sunny day. Much of the same is expected on Wednesday. There will be dew in the evening. The pitch looks very dry, almost like cement, with a bit of grass in the middle that should not affect things much. Expect good carry and bounce, which should suit both teams’ pace bowlers.
Stats and trivia
- Bangladesh and Netherlands last faced in July 2012 when they drew a T20 series 1-1
- Stephan Myburgh has the highest strike-rate (123.25) against Full Members among the four Dutch batsmen to have scored 100-plus T20I runs
Quotes
“We took the flight [from Dhaka] on Monday morning and reached at 6 pm in the evening. We didn’t have much time to practice and adjust, but I guess we will take much confidence from the Asia Cup.”
Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza
“I think Bangladesh are clear favourites, which is not affecting us in terms of pressure. It is a good thing for us.”
Netherlands captain Peter Borren
Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo’s Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84
© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Source: ESPN Crickinfo