ABOUT THE MATCH

Unbeaten Group A leaders the Netherlands can take a big step closer to a place at the 2020 ICC T20 World Cup if they beat Papua New Guinea in Dubai. The match, at the ICC Academy Ground, will be played on October 24.

The Netherlands have won all three games so far they bowled Namibia out for 96 and Singapore out for 101 in their two most recent matches and are the team in Group A yet to lose a match.

Papua New Guinea, meanwhile, started with two wins but a four-run defeat to Scotland ended their unbeaten streak. Though still handily placed in the table, they needed a couple more wins if they are to look like standing a chance of T20 World Cup qualification.

TOSS PREDICTION

Both times the Dutch have won the toss so far, they have batted first. They were asked to bowl first last time out but may send their batsmen in again if they win the toss against Papua New Guinea.

PITCH AND CONDITIONS

Some rare early-morning clouds will have blown over by the time this match starts, with temperatures expected to rocket back into the 30s before it is done.

The ICC Academy Ground has been producing well-balanced wickets for these matches so far a good balance between bat and ball, with run rates high but wickets tumbling.

PROBABLE PLAYING XI OF Netherlands

Tobias Visee, Max O’Dowd, Ben Cooper, Ryan ten Doeschate, Colin Ackermann, Pieter Seelaar (c), Roelof van der Merwe, Scott Edwards (wk), Brandon Glover, Paul van Meekeren, Timm van der Gugten

PROBABLE PLAYING XI OF Papua New Guinea

Tony Ura, Assad Vala (c), Norman Vanua, Charles Amini, Sese Bau, Lega Siaka, Damien Ravu, Kiplin Doriga (wk), Jason Kila, Nosaina Pokana, Hiri Hiri

MATCH PREVIEW

Netherlands

  • Colin Ackermann returned to the team last time out, with Fred Klaassen missing out, highlighting the strength in depth of this Dutch team.
  • Ackermann had previously missed out with a fractured rib. The Netherlands have won three from three so far.
  • Max O’Dowd’s half-century helped them to 166/4 before they restricted Kenya to 136/8 in their first game before Ryan ten Doeschate hit 59 in a total of 140/6 against Namibia.
  • The Dutch bowled  Namibia out for 96 in reply and their good bowling form continued when they skittled Singapore for 101 last time out.
  • O’Dowd top-scored with 35 as the Dutch claimed a comfortable five-wicket win.

Papua New Guinea

  • Papua New Guinea has been unchanged for all three matches so far, though new man Riley Hekure’s minimal impact so far could mean Hiri Hiri returns to face the Netherlands.
  • After his late flurry last time out, Norman Vanua could be pushed up the batting order.
  • Papua New Guinea started the tournament with two wins.
  • They beat Bermuda by ten wickets after Norman Vanua’s hat-trick set them on the way to skittling their opponents for 89.
  • The Barras then beat Namibia, after more good batting from Tony Ura (71) and Assad Vala (48) in a total of 197/7, before their bowlers helped them to a comfortable 81-run win.
  • Last time out, however, they fell just short against Scotland. Chasing 147 to win, they could only manage four runs from the final over as they finished short on 142/9.

PROBABLE WINNING TEAM:

The Netherlands have won three from three so far and, despite Papua New Guinea’s own good start, there is no question the Dutch are favorites again.

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