Netherlands take on UAE in bid to avoid wooden spoon

OverviewThe Netherlands v United Arab Emirates
VRA Cricket Ground, Amstelveen
7th-place play-off, WT20Q 2018
Saturday, 14 July, 11:00 BST, 10:00 Local

It’s been a non-starter of a tournament for the Netherlands, who, as hosts, would have expected a much better showing than what they have put up.

It started in the warm-ups prior to the ICC Women’s World T20 Qualifier 2018, when they lost to Thailand by 46 runs, putting up just 92/7 in reply to Thailand’s 138/7.

The 137/3 they put up against UAE in their first group match was a positive, but that it was built almost entirely around Sterre Kalis’ 68-ball 88* wasn’t lost on anyone. In any case, that performance proved to be a flash in the pan as the Netherlands proceeded to score 42 against Bangladesh and then 85 against Papua New Guinea in a chase of 130.

That put them out of the running for the semi-finals, and they have since suffered a further setback, scoring 118/3 before losing by six wickets to Uganda in a play-off game, slipping after a strong start from their openers.

Now it’s come a full circle, with UAE in front of them as the two teams hope to top the other to finish seventh in the eight-team competition. But for that to happen, the batting desperately needs to come good.

For UAE, a hard-fought win in the first game against the Netherlands, Nisha Ali starring with a 59-ball 69 to make the result happen, has been followed by losses to PNG, Bangladesh and Thailand. After chasing down the Netherlands’ 137/3, they have scored 83, 39 and 50.

The problems for them are the same as those afflicting the Netherlands. Inconsistent batting, average fielding and the lack of standout players putting their hands up and taking responsibility. They are also struggling with the conditions.

Like the Netherlands, they have players of class and ability. It’s a matter of them performing together. Whichever team solves those problems first will finish higher than last, and that should be motivation enough to put up one solid performance.

Key players

**Sterre Kalis (The Netherlands):**She seemed to have drifted out of form after the 88* against UAE, scoring 15 and 6, but the 18-year-old batter came back well in the last game with a 48-ball 43. Her 85-run stand in 13-and-a-half overs with captain Heather Siegers (46) put the Netherlands in a strong position against Uganda, but they fell away after that.

**Esha Oza (United Arab Emirates):**The 19-year-old batter came into the tournament as one of the youngsters to watch out for, but has had a lean run, totalling just 48 runs in four games. But she has got starts on three occasions, and will hope to go further in this, her last chance to show her skills.

Squads

The Netherlands: Heather Siegers (c), Cher van Slobbe, Esther Corder, Caroline de Fouw, Babette de Leede (wk), Denise Hannema, Sterre Kalis, Lisa Klokgieters, Mariska Kornet, Juliet Post, Annemijn Thomson, Robine Rijke, Silver Siegers, Jolien van Vliet

UAE: Humaira Tasneem (c), Chamani Senevirathne, Chaya Mughal, Esha Oza, Heena Hotchandani, Ishni Senavirathna, Judit Cleetus, Kavisha Kumari, Namita Dsouza, Neha Sharma, Nisha Ali, Roopa Nagaraj, Subha Srinivasan and Udeni Kuruppuarachchi