🏏ICC T20I WC 2024:Match 27, Bangladesh vs Netherlands, @8pm IST🏏

🏏ICC T20I WC 2024: Match 27: Bangladesh vs Netherlands,  @8 PM IST🏏

Venue: Arnos Vale Ground, Kingstown, St Vincent 

The race for the Super 8 qualification has intensified with just five spots left for confirmation as Bangladesh and Netherlands face each other at the Arnos Vale Stadium in Kingstown, St. Vincent on Thursday in the Group ‘D’ match of T20 World Cup 2024.

Both teams have two points in two matches. With South Africa already confirming its qualification for the top 8 from this group, both Najmul Hossain Shanto’s Bangladesh and Scott Edwards’ Netherlands will look to grab the available second spot.

Three full tosses. That's how many Keshav Maharaj bowled while defending 10 runs in the final over in New York. 

And had Bangladesh been able to put away even one of them, the Group D picture would have looked quite different from what it does now, with South Africa having qualified and the rest left to scrape their way to the next round.

No wonder Najmul Hossain Shanto, the Bangladesh captain, called it a match his side "should have won"; and while that chance went a begging, they have a crucial encounter coming up against the Netherlands, a side that also is on two points after two matches. 

So a win here for Bangladesh could go a long way in them joining South Africa in the Super 8s.

Netherlands are also in the same boat as Bangladesh when it comes to missed opportunities against South Africa. They had Aiden Markram's side on the mat at 12/4 but didn't quite have answers to David Miller's mature innings at the back end. 

However, Bangladesh in all their vulnerability are a more realistic hunt for the Netherlands in their campaign push for the second round.

Irrespective of who wins this clash, a result in this match will mean curtains for Sri Lanka.

(Logo and Tag Credit to Wildestdreams)

BAN vs NED Head to head:

Bangladesh and the Netherlands have faced off in four T20Is, with Bangladesh emerging victorious three times compared to the Netherlands' one win.

BAN vs NED pitch report:

The wicket at the Arnos Vale Stadium is expected to be competitive, offering assistance to the bowlers. Batsmen who can settle in will find opportunities to score on this pitch.

BAN vs NED Ground History

Arnos Vale Stadium has hosted 5 games, with teams batting second winning 3 matches, indicating it could be favourable for chasing. Teams batting first have won only once at this venue.

Teams Watch:

BANGLADESH

Shoriful Islam, who suffered a finger injury in the warm-up match against India, is expected to be available for this game. It will be interesting to see if he does come in for Tanzim Sakib, who had South Africa in a soup with the new ball the other day.

Tactics & Matchups: The lack of six-hitters in Bangladesh's middle order was evident in their loss against South Africa, more specifically in their inability to hit loose balls from Maharaj in the final over, and it's something that they would look to consciously improve upon. Lack of sixes isn't a new issue for Bangladesh though; since 2023, they have the second-worst balls per six ratio among participating teams in this World Cup.

Probable XI: Tanzid Hasan, Litton Das (wk), Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Towhid Hridoy, Shakib Al Hasan, Jaker Ali, Mahmudullah, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Mustafizur Rahman

NETHERLANDS

If the pitch is really dry, they might consider bringing in Aryan Dutt, who relishes bowling with the new ball.

Tactics & Matchups: Netherlands would want some runs from Scott Edwards, who's averaging under 14 across 10 T20Is this year. In some good throwback, he was the top-scorer for the Netherlands when they beat Bangladesh in the ODI World Cup last year.

Probable XI: Michael Levitt, Max O'Dowd, Vikramjit Singh, Sybrand Engelbrecht, Scott Edwards (c & wk), Bas de Leede, Teja Nidamanuru, Logan van Beek, Tim Pringle, Paul van Meekeren, Vivian Kingma

What they said

"I think we are not only a strong enough team to go to the Super 8 but also we have the strength to play the final. I believe in that" - Towhid Hridoy.

"I think the nice thing for us as a unit is that we very internally focused so if we play our brand of cricket and attacking cricket, we think we can compete with anybody in the world" - Sybrand Engelbrecht.

Netherlands win the toss and opt to bowl first.

Power Play Score: 35-45

First Innings Score: 130-140

Bangladesh win the match

Scenario 2

Bangladesh win the toss and opt to bowl first.

Power Play score: 30-40

First Innings Score: 110-120

Bangladesh win the match

Did you know?

- Bangladesh have a 3-1 record against the Netherlands in T20Is, and have won both the faceoffs in T20 World Cups

- Towhid Hridoy is Bangladesh's leading run-getter in T20Is post the World Cup in 2022

- Since 2023, the Netherlands have hit a six every 20.6 deliveries as compared to Bangladesh, who have hit a six every 23.3 deliveries

Bangladesh fans will hope their team’s qualification for Super Eights does not come down to prayers. One fan asked the men in green to do their bit while the fans do theirs, with a placard reading: “You play, we pray” during their match against South Africa.

‘We play do-or-die matches all year’

The Netherlands are also aware of the importance of the clash and their bowler Logan van Beek said the team have had “very nice” preparations ahead of it.

The Arnos Vale Stadium has plenty of unknowns surrounding it as it has not hosted an international cricket match in 10 years. In the past, the pitch has produced an even contest between bat and ball, with spinners finding plenty of success.

While there is no rain forecast, weather conditions will be typically hot and humid. 

Both sides have won one each and lost one game – against South Africa – in the tournament so far.

Bangladesh have relied on their power-hitting batters and calm lower-order veteran Mahmudullah to see them through with the bat. Rishad Hossain has also played an invaluable role with the ball.

The Netherlands have been tidy with the ball and excellent on the field. All they need is for their batting to step up a gear.

Bangladesh: L W W L L
Netherlands: L W L L L

Netherlands has done well in bowling, with good performances against Nepal and South Africa. Their batting has been inconsistent though, with Max O'Dowd being the only decent performer. Their batting will put to a test against Bangladesh's bowling attack, especially Mustafizur and Mahmudullah.

Prediction

It's expected to be a tightly contested match where bowling strength will play a crucial role. Both teams will look to iron out their batting woes and capitalize on the fresh conditions in Kingstown. With a slight edge in bowling and the urgency to stay alive in the tournament, Bangladesh is expected to win the match against Netherlands.

The opening partnership has been a problem area for Bangladesh, with neither of the two pairs tried stitching together anything of substance. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and Tanzid Hasan stepped out to open the batting in the previous game, after Soumya Sarkar was dropped from the playing XI.

On the other hand, Netherlands have been putting on a great show at the T20 World Cup, especially with their bowling. They beat Nepal to kick off their tournament, and then gave South Africa an almighty scare before David Miller settled it in favour of the Proteas. When it comes to the batting, Max O’Dowd has been the lone ranger for the Dutch, but the seam-bowling line-up of Vivian Kingma, Paul van Meekeren, Bas de Leede and Logan van Beek has been well supported by the left-arm spin of Tim Pringle.