New Zealand are aiming to build on their impressive victory against England when they face the Netherlands at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad at 9.30am on Monday 9th October.
The Black Caps, runners-up at both the 2015 and 2019 World Cups, routed the world champions by nine wickets in their opening game in Ahmedabad but they will be wary of a Dutch side who caused Pakistan a few problems before subsiding to an 81-run defeat.
Team news
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson will not be risked against the Netherlands as he continues his recovery from a serious knee injury. However, fast bowlers Lockie Ferguson and Tim Southee, who missed the win over England with minor niggles, are available for selection.
The Netherlands are likely to stick with the team who faced Pakistan in their opening game in Hyderabad, so Ryan Klein, Wesley Barresi, Shariz Ahmed and Sybrand Engelbrecht will miss out again.
Aryan Dutt Netherlands Top Wicket Taker @ 4/1
New Zealand are hot favourites to follow up their superb win over England with a regulation victory against the Netherlands.
However, the Dutch have a slight advantage in that their first fixture against Pakistan was also in Hyderabad and several of their players impressed at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.
Bas de Leede was the star of the show, taking four wickets before scoring a classy 67 off 68 balls, but spinner Aryan Dutt also caught the eye with his excellent new-ball spell and he is worth backing to be the top Netherlands wicket-taker on Monday.
Dutt was the only Dutch player to bowl his allotted 10 overs, a sign of skipper Scott Edwards’ faith in him, and he finished with figures of 1-48 against a Pakistan batting unit packed with good players of spin.
He dismissed the well-set Saud Shakeel and a couple of the boundaries he conceded could easily have been wickets as Saud almost nicked one to slip and Mohammad Rizwan very nearly chopped the ball on to his own stumps.
#PickYourPunt – Each Team To Score 6+ Runs In Their 1st Over @ 9/2
Four runs were scored in each of the first overs of the Netherlands’ clash with Pakistan, but Dutch opener Vikramjit Singh showed plenty of early intent, hitting four boundaries in the first five overs.
The #PickYourPunt for each team to score six or more runs in their first over is worth a bet given that New Zealand’s Trent Boult conceded 12 runs in his opening six balls against England.
Jonny Bairstow pinged Boult’s second delivery of the tournament into the stands for six and New Zealand opener Devon Conway was equally dismissive of England bowler Chris Woakes, hitting ten runs off the first over of the run-chase.
The Black Caps raced to 121-1 from the first 15 overs against England and another fast start could be on the cards in Hyderabad.
