Nepal will look for inspiration from PNG’s win over The Netherlands few days back as Nepal face The Dutch today in the fifth match of ICC T20 Qualifiers, seeking revenge for the embarrassing defeat Nepal faced 2 years back.
Big Picture
The Netherlands are one of the big fishes of the tournament, 4th in WCL Championships they have played every 50 over World Cup in 1996 and two T20 World Cups. They even defeated England in the group stages of 2009 World Cup.
They been by far the most consistent side in the tournament winning 3 of its four matches in Group B all pretty comprehensively. A team in spectacular form; their wins are based on team performance and not individual brilliance. So it’s not one batsmen or one bowler that Nepal has to be cautious about, Nepal has to bat and bowl well all the way.
Nepal on the other hand has set up a solid form if not spectacular in the tournament but they have not yet defeated any sides that they didn’t last year. Defeating Netherland will bolster Nepal’s claims of being one of top associate sides.
Nepal’s batting lineup is strengthened by Binod Bhandari getting into runs. Sharad Vesawkar Gyanendra Malla and Subash Khakurel also look in good touch.
Nepal will bank on Fast Bowlers!
But its Nepali fast bowling that has impressed in the last two matches- Amrit Bhattarai has looked almost unplayable in the initial overs and Jitendra Mukhiya is at his best bowling at the death overs.
But the spin attack has looked pretty rusty in last few games. Sagar Pun and Basanta Regmi have given runs at over 9 runs an over in previous 2 matches and haven’t looked to trouble the batsman either. Given how Norman Vanua,(fast bowler from PNG, picked up 3 wickets against the Dutch) the Netherlands, Jitendra and Amirt will be the key players today.
Likely Changes- Sagar Pun has been pretty rusty for 2 matches now. He will likely be dropped for batsman-most likely Anil Mandal. Looking at Norman Vanua’s figures and how rustly Nepali spinners have looked Avinash Karn could get a call into the team as well.
Previous Encounter
Netherland humiliated Nepal in the lone encounter these teams had in the previous edition of the tournament. Riding on some disciplined bowling The Netherland restriced Nepal to 85 in 20 overs and chased that with 6 wickets in hand in just 14 overs. Swart, who had picked up 2 wickets with the ball top scored for the Netherlands with 16. Nepal’s Gyanendra Malla, as he often does in most difficult situation scored 32 runs.
The Netherlands Squad:
The Netherland is slightly attenuated battinge compared to last edition of the tournament as Alexei Kervezee and Tom Cooper who were one of the top scorers for them in last edition of the tournament are not playing this year. Ryan ten Doeschate like previous year is not in the Ducth squad once again. They have however retained the bowling attack- Bukhari, Malik will trouble Nepali batsman with their fast bowling. Piter Seelaar’s impeccable line and length will the other challenge for NepalPeter Borren (captain), Wesley Barresi, Mudassar Bukhari, Daan van Bunge, Atse Buurman, Ben Cooper, Tim Gruijters, Vivian Kingma, Ahsan Malik, Paul van Meekeren, Stephan Myburgh, Michael Rippon, Pieter Seelaar, Michael Swart, Eric Szwarczynski
The Netherlands in ICC T20 Qualifier 2013
Form : W L W W
Most Runs : Stephan Myburgh with 155 runs(2 half centuries)
Most Wickets: Ahsan Malik- 9 wickets, Mudassar Bukhari 6 wickets:
Most wickets in a match :Ahsan Malik 4/10 against Denmark
Most runs in a match: 78* by Stephan Myburgh against BermudaNepal in ICC T20 Qualifiers
Form: W W L W
Most Runs: Paras Khadka 155 runs in 4 innings
Most Wickets: Paras Khadka with 8 wickets followed by Jitendra and Basanta with 5
Most wickets in a match: Sagar Pun 3/12 against Denmark
Most runs in a match: 54 Paras Khadka against KenyaWatch Out for
Stephen Myburg who was the highest run scorer for the Dutch the previous year is leading them once again with the bat. With already two 50s to his name he will have an important role today.Mudassar Bukhari, known for his impeccable line and good economic rate is disappointed going over 6 runs an over first four matches. He will be looking to make up for that today.
Subash Khakurel has scored 115 runs in 4 matches and is one of few batsman in Nepali Squad that handle pace with ease. How he deals with Ahsan Malik and Muddsar Bukhari in the early overs will determine a lot about the match.
Amrit Bhattarai has been very impressive in the last two matches. Except the two full tosses in the late stages against Scotland (which travelled for six) his left arm in-swingers troubled every batsman. Fast bowlers from all other teams have gifted such full tosses (in attempt of bowling Yorkers) and comparably Amrit has been bowling much less of those than the fast bowlers of some of the top associates. Amrit has long been claimed as one of finest fast bowlers in Nepal and he has been growing into his miserable best in the last two matches.
His in-swingers early on will set the tone for Nepal in today’s match.
