The Netherlands qualify for T20 World Cup 2020
It’s the 29th of October 2019 and the Netherlands celebrate their confirmation as the 13th team to make the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2020 in Australia.
A superb performance from the Netherland’s bowlers, in the Qualifiers saw their seamers completely overpower the top order of hosts the United Arab Emirates at the Dubai International Stadium. The UAE were reduced to 9 for 5 at one point before being pegged back to a total score of 80 for 9.
The end result a convincing eight-wicket play-off match win, in which the Netherlands’ fast bowler Brandon Glover captured a joint-best tournament wicket haul of 4 for 12.
How Netherlands T20WC qualifying game unfolded
UAE had every reason to regret their decision to bat first, as destructive spells from Fred Klaassen, Paul van Meekeren and Glover who all found pace, as well as precise line and length with the new ball.
Klaassen, called back into the Netherlands side, produced an unplayable fifth ball of the day which homed in on opening bat Rohan Mustafa’s top edge like a heat-seeking missile and as the ball rose gracefully skywards, Fred was perfectly positioned beneath it to take the catch. Mustafa departed for one.
Then Van Meekeren forced both Rameez Shahzad and Mohammad Usman to edge to wicket-keeper Scott Edwards from consecutive balls, both back in the dressing rooms without scoring.
Up steps Glover to stamp his name on the game. Having had a chance dropped off his first ball, he proceeded to trap Darius D’Silva lbw for the third duck in a crumbling UAE innings. Zawar Farid was then caught off a rising short delivery from Glover and fifty percent of the hosts batting line-up had been cut down in its prime for just 9 runs.
A relieved Netherlands coach, Ryan Campbell was to later say of his quicks following qualification for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2020:
“We bring pace to the game”
Expat Sport Can’t fault you on that one Ryan!
Nevertheless resistance was nigh in the innings. A lower middle-order UAE revival ensued which was at its free flowing best stage during a 34-run partnership for the eighth wicket between Ahmed Raza and Sultan Ahmed, both of whom managed to launch a six over the boundary rope. However, sadly the final total was unlikely to pose any major challenges to a Netherlands T20 team that had only been defeated once in the qualifier tournament to date. In fact a side which would only lose out on first place and automatic qualification in Group A due to a lower net run-rate.
Netherlands at the crease, Max O’Dowd clean bowled by UAE’s Mustafa in the second over, a good start. Yet in truth that success exerted only minor pressure on the scoreboard, as Ben Cooper who was returning to the opener’s slot glided to 41 not out off 53 balls to take charge of a comfortable run chase, which was done and dusted in 15.1 overs.
By the way a win that sealed the Netherlands a place in the tournament semi-final, In which they will face Ireland, the table toppers in Group B, on Friday 1st of November.
Nevertheless it would be churlish not to give the final words to Netherland’s coach Ryan Campbell:
“We came out on the big stage and showed exactly how good Dutch cricket is.
“There were times in Oman [hosts of the pre-tournament series] and leading in where it was very easy to think this can’t happen, but we stuck together, we regrouped, and today we showed just how good we are.”
