Looking Back: 2013 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier

The Top Three MatchesAfghanistan v Netherlands – Group B

The Netherlands has been among the stronger sides at the Associate level, but Afghanistan’s results over the previous few years had marked the Asian side out as one of the two biggest forces at that level alongside Ireland. Thus, when the Netherlands triumphed by seven wickets in the first Group B match for either side, it counted as an upset of sorts. Mudassar Bukhari, Paul van Meekeren, Pieter Seelaar and Ahsan Malik all picked up two wickets as Afghanistan was bowled out for 90. Peter Borren, the captain, then led Netherlands home in just 12.5 overs, with an unbeaten 38 from only 15 balls.

Scotland v Netherlands – Fifth-place Playoff Semi-finals

Netherlands was at it again, scalping a higher-rated team, when a disciplined bowling performance and Wesley Barresi’s superb knock helped it beat Scotland by eight wickets. Despite Matt Machan’s 53-ball 61, Scotland reached 147 for 6 – a reasonable, but not formidable, total. But with Barresi smashing an unbeaten 75 from just 47 balls, the Netherlands was ahead of the required rate all the way through. Ben Cooper pitched in with 40 in 28 balls and Michael Swart added an unbeaten 28-ball 30, and the Netherlands went over the line easily.

UAE v Nepal – Third-place Playoff

UAE had given everyone every reason to believe that it had the wherewithal to get past Nepal and finish third, but at no stage in that playoff did Nepal look the underdog. Six UAE batsmen got starts, but the best was Abdul Shakoor’s 28 – scored from 39 balls – and with Basant Regmi returning 4-16, Nepal was in the driver’s seat at the halfway stage with a target of 132 in front of it. It got better for Nepal with Subash Khakurel scoring 38 at the top of the chase, and with Sharad Vesawkar’s unbeaten 29-ball 43 later on, there was going to be only one winner for this one – Nepal going on to win by five wickets in the last over.