Match Preview – Namibia vs Netherlands, ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021/22, 7th Match, First Round Group A
Namibia might stick with the XI that lost to Sri Lanka but Netherlands could bring in Stephan Myburgh and Timm van der Gugten
Big picture
The cruelty of the big time will catch up with one of Namibia and Netherlands on Wednesday, with the T20 World Cup dream ending for the team that is defeated. Such is the first round of the T20 World Cup, where two losses are too many, and the pressure of rising from an early stumble ever greater.
The expectations from the Dutch, who won the qualifying event two years ago and have significant major tournament experience in their squad, would be more. But Namibia expect a lot of themselves, and would have been disappointed with the way they performed in their first World Cup match in 18 years, especially after their intense preparatory period.
5:07
WATCH – Ireland brush past Netherlands in their T20 World Cup opener
Form guide
Last five completed matches, most recent first
Namibia LWLWW
Netherlands: LLTWW
In the spotlight
Team news
Despite the poor batting in the opening match, Namibia are likely to go in with the same XI.
Namibia: 1 Stephan Baard, 2 Zane Green (wk), 3 Craig Williams, 4 Gerhard Erasmus (capt), 5 David Wiese, 6 JJ Smit, 7 Jan Frylinck, 8 Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, 9 Ruben Trumpelmann, 10 Pikky Ya France, 11 Bernard Scholtz
Netherlands: 1 Max O’Dowd, 2 Ben Cooper/Stephan Myburgh, 3 Bas de Leede, 4 Colin Ackermann, 5 Ryan ten Doeschate, 6 Scott Edwards (wk), 7 Roelof van der Merwe, 8 Pieter Seelar (capt), 9 Logan van Beek, 10 Fred Klaasen, 11 Brandon Glover
5:02
WATCH – Sri Lanka beat Namibia
Pitch and conditions
Monday’s Group A matches were low-scoring, but that is more a reflection of the line-ups than the conditions in Abu Dhabi, known to be usually good for batting. We could now be in for a close contest, whether low-scoring or in a run fest. The surface will, however, still be low and slow. And it will be another scorcher.
Stats and trivia
Quotes
“We don’t necessarily have to go back to the drawing board. We have a very good game plan. We back ourselves in strike rotation and play spin well, which we just didn’t execute tonight. The spirit in the camp is extremely high. We back ourselves obviously against the Netherlands, we back ourselves against Ireland, and let’s see where those games take us.”
Craig Williams is not taking Namibia’s opening defeat to Sri Lanka too badly.
“Two must-win games. We’ve got Namibia, who we’ve played before, and we know their strengths, we know their weaknesses, and we’re going to have to go out and beat them.”
It’s a straightforward case of must-win for Netherlands, according to opening batter Max O’Dowd.
Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo’s South Africa correspondent
