NZ vs NED | only T20I | Match Preview, Predictions, Fantasy XI

The Netherlands' white-ball tour of New Zealand starts tomorrow with a one-off T20I fixture, scheduled at McLean Park, Napier. Ahead of the historic T20I series that will see New Zealand hosting a new opposition in its territory, the Netherlands were to play a warm-up game but, unfortunately, rain abandoned the match.

The Tom Latham-led Black Caps will take the field in the absence of their star players, who will miss the Netherlands series due to the nearing IPL edition. This provides opportunities to domestic talents, namely Dane Cleaver, Blair Tickner, Will Young, Michael Bracewell and Doug Bracewell to feature in the XI and make a case for themselves to be included in the 2022 T20 World Cup.

New Zealand last played a T20I series against India, in which they suffered a whitewash. They reached the finals of the previous T20 World Cup but their plan for the mega event, scheduled in October, is far from finalised and that can serve as an advantage to fresh faces included in the squad for the upcoming series.

The focus, particularly, will be on Michael Bracewell and Dane Cleaver as they go head-to-head versus the Netherlands after topping run-scoring charts in the Super Smash 2021.

On the other hand, the Netherlands are currently running cold with their recent performance not reflecting much inspiration. They were knocked out in the qualifying round of the last year's World Cup. 

The visitors will be captained by Pieter Seelaar, while Logan van Beek and Fred Klaassen are included in the squad for the series on the back of good experience of playing in the New Zealand conditions.

Match Details: New Zealand vs Netherlands, 1st T20

Date and Time - 25th March 2022, 11:40 AM IST 

Venue - McLean Park, Napier

Broadcast - Amazon Prime Video app and website 

Pitch report:

As every other ground in New Zealand, McLean Park in Napier offers batting-friendly conditions. Pacers will be a threat with the new ball but will go for runs with the progression of the match.

Squads:

New Zealand 

Tom Latham, Doug Bracewell, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Dane Cleaver, Colin de Grandhomme, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Scott Kuggeleijn, Ben Sears, Ish Sodhi, Blair Tickner, Will Young.

Netherlands 

Pieter Seelaar, Stephan Myburgh, Max O’Dowd, Scott Edwards, Bas de Leede, Vikramjit Singh, Aryan Dutt, Logan van Beek, Philippe Boissevain, Brandon Glover, Fred Klaassen, Ryan Klein, Clayton Floyd, Boris Gorlee, Shares Ahmad.

Probable Playing XI:

New Zealand

Tom Latham ©, Martin Guptill, Dane Cleaver (wk), Mark Chapman, Will Young, Colin de Grandhomme, Michael Bracewell, Scott Kuggeleijn, Ish Sodhi, Matt Henry, Doug Bracewell

Netherlands 

Vikramjit Singh, Max O'Dowd, Scott Edwards (wk), Bas de Leede, Pieter Seelaar ©, Boris Gorlee, Logan van Beek, Aryan Dutt, Ryan Klein, Fred Klaassen, Clayton Floyd

CE Fantasy XI:

Tom Latham, Martin Guptill, Scott Edwards, Dane Cleaver, Max O'Dowd, Colin de Grandhomme, Pietee Seelaar, Logan van Beek, Fred Klaassen, Ish Sodhi, Matt Henry

Captain- Martin Guptill

Vice-captain- Dane Cleaver