New Zealand will play a host to a rare visit from the Netherlands for this four-match white-ball series, starting with this standalone T20 in Napier. The hosts will be without several star names due to the start of the IPL, but they will nonetheless go into this match as the heavy favourites. Will the Dutch be able to spring a surprise? Read on for our full New Zealand vs Netherlands T20 preview and prediction:
New Zealand vs Netherlands T20 Preview and Prediction
Recent Form
New Zealand have not played a great deal of white-ball cricket of late with their main focus Test series against Bangladesh and South Africa. But they did play a three-match T20 series away from home against India shortly after their defeat in the final of the World Cup. It is not a series they are likely to have fond memories of as they were fairly convincingly beaten in all three matches. But one suspects that the Netherlands will prove slightly less formidable opposition than India.
The Netherlands, meanwhile, have not played in this format of the game since being skittled for 44 by Sri Lanka in the final match of their World Cup campaign. Since then, they have been on an aborted tour of South Africa and played a three-match ODI series against Afghanistan in the UAE. The dry spinning tracks in the Emirates caused real problems for the Dutch batters, and they failed to pass 200 in all three matches as Afghanistan recorded a comfortable 3-0 win.
Expected Teams
Martin Guptill will lead the way for New Zealand at the top of the order with Michael Bracewell’s fine domestic form perhaps enough to earn him a place. Will Young and captain Tom Latham are other options in the top order, with Colin de Grandhomme likely to play a vital role in the middle order. Dane Cleaver may also be in line for an international debut. Doug Bracewell, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, and Blair Tickner are the likeliest frontline bowling quartet.
Max O’Dowd will likely open the batting with Stephen Myburgh. That will see Scott Edwards bat at number three, with Bas de Leede – who acquitted himself valiantly in the UAE – at number four. Captain Pieter Seelar will bat at five and Roelof van de Merwe at six. New Zealand-based all-rounder Michael Rippon is a likely option at number seven. Fred Klaasen will lead the bowling attack, with Philippe Boissevain, Logan van Beek and Brandon Glover likely to round out the side.
Prediction
Weakened as they are by IPL absentees, this is still a formidable New Zealand side. Latham, de Grandhomme, Henry and Sodhi all have considerable international experience behind them. The Netherlands have some experienced internationals in their own right, but they have not played at the same level, or as consistently, as New Zealand’s veterans. It would be a very famous win if the Dutch can pull it off, but this one seems more likely to end up being filed under valuable experience.
Main photo:
Embed from Getty Images
