ICC T20 World Cup Qualifier 2019, 1st play-off: UAE v Netherlands – Preview, likely XIs, prediction

ICC T20 World Cup Qualifier 2019, 1st play-off: UAE v Netherlands – Preview, likely XIs, prediction

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There’s another chance to book their tickets to Australia, and which of UAE and Netherlands will take it at the second time of asking?

The league stages of the ICC T20 World Cup Qualifier 2019 are over, and we have the first two of six qualifiers confirmed for the main event in Australia next year. Ireland, and remarkably, Papua New Guinea, have booked their place in the main event. Four places remain up for grabs.

The Netherlands and UAE will clash on Tuesday with a chance of joining PNG and Ireland in Australia. The winner will qualify for the main tournament, the losing side will have one more chance to qualify, when they take on the sides that fourth in the groups. The winner of that will go through, the losing side will be eliminated.

It’s all rather straightforward. The Netherlands have had an excellent tournament, and were unlucky not to progress after losing out to PNG by net run-rate. They won 5 of their 6 matches, claiming 10 points, and will be backing themselves against UAE.

They have plenty of their players in form, including Max O’Dowd and Ben Cooper, the openers, and the likes of Colin Ackermann, Ryan ten Doeschate and Pieter Seelaar in the middle order. The wickets have come via Paul van Meekeren and Roelof van der Merwe, and all in all, the Netherlands look a tight, difficult unit.

That said, UAE won’t be pushovers. For starters, they’re playing at home, and the crowd support has gradually increased for their matches during the course of the tournament. Then there’s the fact that they’ve displayed excellent mental resolve – they’ve lost as many as five key players to a fixing scandal, but the team has remained steadfast despite that.

The seniors – those that remain – have stepped up, under the able guidance of captain Ahmed Raza, and with Rohan Mustafa and Chirag Suri keeping things moving. The likes of Muhammad Usman, Waheed Ahmed and Junaid Siddique have shown the strength in depth of the side, and UAE believe Netherlands are due an upset. They will be hoping to deliver that tomorrow.

Head to head

In 7 T20Is between the sides over the years, UAE have won 4 to Netherlands’ 3. All 4 of those victories came this year, in August during UAE’s tour of Holland.

Key players

Rohan Mustafa (UAE): Mustafa has been the heartbeat of UAE this campaign. In 6 matches so far, he has scored 115 runs and claimed 8 wickets in what has been a stellar string of all-round displays. Netherlands will have their eye on him.

Colin Ackermann (Netherlands): Netherlands have their own all-round general in Colin Ackermann. The Leicestershire man has scored 109 runs and taken 3 crucial wickets in the tournament so far, in just four matches, and a lot of Netherlands’ hopes will rest on him.

Likely XIs

UAE: Roshan Mustafa, Zawar Farid, Chirag Suri, Muhammad Usman, Waheed Ahmed, Mohammad Boota (wk), Sultan Ahmed, Ahmed Raza (c), Darius D’Silva, Junaid Siddique, Imran Haider

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

Prediction

Netherlands seem to be on a purple patch, and have seen away some big teams this tournament. They’re likely to win this one.