Netherlands have chance to inflict pain on out-of-form Bangladesh

Bangladesh lost both group games at the Asia Cup and have won just four T20Is in the whole of 2022; the Netherlands, by contrast, have prepared for this stage by coming through a tough round-robin section

When the Netherlands last reached this stage of the T20 World Cup eight years ago, they humiliated an England side at the nadir of its white-ball cricket.

The sight of James Tredwell and Stephen Parry stranded mid-pitch as Wesley Barresi whipped the bails off to complete a 45-run victory was a haunting, defining image of a dreadful campaign for Stuart Broad's team. It was the only win mustered by the Dutch in what was then the Super 10s, having edged past Ireland and the United Arab Emirates.

Mudassar Bukhari was the player of the match, Peter Borren the captain. Stephan Myburgh made 38; he is one of four survivors from that evening – Logan van Beek, Timm van der Gugten and Tom Cooper the others.

As they eye up their next scalp, beginning with a clash against Bangladesh is perhaps an ideal situation, given the uncertainty around Shakib al Hasan's side, who have endured a poor year and appear to have little idea of their best line-up.

^{Bangladesh lost all four matches in a tri-series against Pakistan and New Zealand (Sanka Vidanagama/AFP via Getty Images)}

If that wasn't evident enough through a calendar year that has brought just four wins, then the decision just hours before the squad-submission deadline to replace Mohammad Saifuddin and Sabbir Rahman – both dropped at the last minute – with Soumya Sarkar and Shoriful Islam was as good a sign as any of the disarray engulfing a country whose performances at last year's tournament were arguably more disappointing than any other. There have been precious few signs of improvement.

If their failings then are anything to go by – pace and bounce caused a relentless panic throughout – then the Netherlands' attack ought to be licking its lips.

Aside from van der Gugten and van Beek, Fred Klaassen, Bas de Leede and Paul van Meekeren comprise a more-than-useful cartel: van Meekeren was clocked at upwards of 90mph in the first stage, while Brandon Glover – notoriously sharp himself – is yet to play but is also part of a 15-man squad already battle-hardened having come through last week's round­-robin.

THE BIG MATCH

Who: Netherlands v Bangladesh

Where: Blundstone Arena, Hobart

When: Monday, October 24 (3pm local time, 5am BST)

Prediction: Netherlands

Those three matches – a defeat by Sri Lanka, with wins over Namibia and UAE – provide another advantage: preparation. By contrast, Bangladesh have been frustrated by the Hobart weather, which might well play a part on Monday, and were whipping boys in a recent tri-series in New Zealand. Their final warmup match – against South Africa last Wednesday – was washed out.

So, Russell Domingo has big calls to make, particularly in the make-up of Bangladesh's batting, where Najmul Hossain Shanto is likely to partner Sarkar, with Liton Das and Shakib behind them.

With the ball, Bangladesh have become distinctively un-Bangladeshi, no longer particularly spin-heavy but instead – in Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud and Mustafizur Rahman – blessed with a quality group of seamers.

^{Shakib al Hasan is Bangladesh's captain (William West/AFP via Getty Images)}

They have represented the minority, though, as bright sparks in a poor year. They lost both group games at the Asia Cup, with UAE, Afghanistan and Zimbabwe the only countries they've beaten in T20Is in 2022. In their only practice game in Australia, they were hammered by the Afghans, losing by 62 runs; there were first-ball ducks for Afif Hossain and Yasir Ali. Bangladesh finished on 98 for 9.

"You guys suggested it will be an upset," said Cooper, speaking to reporters ahead of Monday's clash, about what it would mean if the Netherlands come out on top.

"But we don't see it that way. We are here to compete. We have got close against these guys in the past. I don't see no reason that we can't knock them off tomorrow."

Three games into their own campaign, against a side short on form and rhythm, they won't get a better chance.

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