Pace attack confirm T20 World Cup qualification for Netherlands
They join Group A leaders PNG and Group B leaders Ireland as three of the six teams from the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Qualifier to proceed to the main event.
The Netherlands seamers reduced the UAE top order to 9/5 before keeping them to 80/9, setting up an emphatic eight-wicket win in the play-off match on Tuesday, 29 October, at the Dubai International Stadium. Brandon Glover took joint tournament-best figures of 4/12.
T20WCQ: NED v UAE – Netherlands seal T20WC qualification
The Netherlands bowlers led the way in the semi-final play-off against UAE, reducing them to 80/9 before the team completed an eight-wicket win in Dubai.
UAE were made to rue their decision to bat first with Fred Klaassen, Paul van Meekeren and Glover finding pace and carry with the new ball.
Klaassen, back in the XI, induced a top edge from opener Rohan Mustafa with the fifth ball of the day, and held on to the skier. Van Meekeren had both Rameez Shahzad and Mohammad Usman edging to the wicket-keeper off back-to-back balls.
T20WCQ: 'We bring pace to the game' – Ryan Campbell
A relieved Netherlands coach hails his pacers after they set up qualification for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2020.
Glover got into the game, having a chance dropped off his first ball, before trapping Darius D'Silva in front. Zawar Farid then was done in by a short ball and UAE had lost half their line-up for 9.
A lower middle-order revival was at its best phase during a 34-run stand for the eighth wicket between Ahmed Raza and Sultan Ahmed, who both struck a six each. But the total was not one that was likely to challenge a team that has been defeated just once in the tournament so far and lost out on top spot and automatic qualification in Group A based on net run-rate.
"We came out on the big stage and showed exactly how good Dutch cricket is." – Netherlands coach Ryan Campbell to his side before they broke out into their team song! pic.twitter.com/NLkUWqHu9M
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) October 29, 2019
Mustafa bowled Max O'Dowd in the second over, but with little scorecard pressure, Ben Cooper – back in the opener's spot – eased to 41* off 53 balls to helm a comfortable chase in 15.1 overs.
With the win, Netherlands also sealed their place in the semi-final of the tournament, and are set to face Ireland, the Group B toppers, on Friday.
