Whatever fans and pundits expected Group D to look like in the middle stages of the tournament, it was not this. Bangladesh at second, closely followed by the Dutch depicts that this tournament has shown no regard for convention. Staying true to its name, this group of death has not let the drama leave its premise. While South Africa rest serenely at the top, it’s Bangladesh and the Netherlands who are juggling the Super 8s tickets between them. And this match could give us a more vivid picture of who the elite two will be by the end of this stage.
On their (Already delayed) flight to Kingstown, there would be only one thing on the minds of Bangladesh players: how the dead-ball rule changed the course of their World Cup campaign. Had those four leg-byes been awarded, they would not be hoping for the Netherlands’ upset manufacturing side to remain asleep. Things are tense now which in T20I jargon is a synonym for exciting. This excitement means both teams would punch above their weight to get those crucial two points.
The Dutch are fresh off a defeat at the hands of Proteas as well. Although their loss was not as narrow, they would have fancied thrashing South Africa for the third time in ICC tournaments. But that’s done now. Their eyes should be on the next target, another full-member team: Bangladesh. Vanquishing the Asian team, to the Dutchs’ glee, is several times easier than defeating South Africa. Since they have done the latter, doing the former should not be a problem.
Team Overview:
Bangladesh batters have been abysmal this edition. Barring Towhid Hridoy (and perhaps Mahmudullah too), none of them could chip in any impactful runs for the team. It’s really just been the Bangladesh bowlers who have pushed the team this far. Despite playing a decent knock against Sri Lanka, Litton Das looked far from his explosive best, scoring under a run a ball. This self-granted anchor role could not even survive two matches. Besides batters, Shakib al Hasan has been a worrying sign for the team. He enters the third match wicketless, having conceded 11.5 runs per over and scored only 11 in two matches.
The Dutch have been facing more or less the same issues. Excluding a Max O’Dowd half-century, the batters have not been able to fire in any of the matches. Sybrand Engelbrecht and Michael Levitt were in some form entering the tournament but have not been able to chew runs with their willows so far in the World Cup. The Netherlands bowlers have done quite an impressive job. Vivek Kingma, Logan van Beek, and Bas de Leede must have surged in confidence after their spells against Nepal and South Africa.
Head-to-head Matches:
Bangladesh have pitted against the Dutch four times in the shortest format. Dominating these contests, the Bangladesh team won three while the Dutch came out on top once. The most recent encounter came during the T20 World Cup 2022 where Bangladesh scraped through by 9 runs.
Weather and Pitch Report:
There is a forecast for rain in Kingstown but it’s likely to subside before the match begins. Cricket has been elusive on the ground for almost a decade, so the pitch conditions can not be backed with any recent stats and would be more of a guesswork. From whatever figures we have recorded and games we have seen in the Arnos Vale ground, it is likely to favour bowlers over the batters. Pacers would love to exploit the humid conditions, making life difficult for the batsmen. All in all, a low-scoring affair is what would unfold between both teams.
Prediction:
The Netherlands team have been phenomenal over the years in International cricket. Their record against full-members has been erratic, with occasional flashes of brilliance which helped them get over the line several times. However, this game can be expected to be won by Bangladesh. The Asian team boasts a string bowling lineup with a good mix of pacers and spinners who can make things smooth for the team on a surface like the Kingstown deck.
Where to Watch:
You can watch the games on the following platforms as per your region:
- India – Star Sports
- Pakistan – PTV Sports, Ten Sports, Myco (Live streaming) and Tamasha app (Live streaming)
- USA and Canada – Willow TV
- England – Sky Sports Network
- Caribbean – ESPN Caribbean
- New Zealand & Australia – Sky Sports NZ, Prime Video
- Other regions – SuperSport, Sirasa, CricLife, STARZPLAY
