Netherlands vs Zimbabwe, 2019: 1st T20I: Dream11 Fantasy Cricket Tips – Playing XI, Pitch Report & Injury Update

Netherlands recorded their maiden ODI series win against a full member nation defeated Zimbabwe by 2-0 margin in the 2-match ODI series. Contributions and ability to bat low down the order helped the Netherlands to chase down the target of 291 with three wickets and four balls to spare. Roelof van der Merwe counter-attacking 54-ball 57 in the middle-order made the difference for the hosts.

Max O’Dowd scored his 2nd straight fifty to give a solid start to his team. Earlier after winning the toss, Sikandar Raza’s unbeaten 85, Craig Ervine’s 84 and Brendan Taylor’s 51 helped Zimbabwe to finish on 290/6. The two teams will now face off in a 2-match T20I series in Rotterdam. These two clashed in only once in a T20I game – during the 2014 WT20 game which Zimbabwe won by 5 wickets.

Match Details:

The 1st game of the 2-match T20I series between Netherlands and Zimbabwe will be hosted by the Hazelaarweg in Rotterdam.

The match starts at 11:00 AM local time (9:00 AM GMT) (2:30 PM IST). The game will be live streamed on Youtube and on Netherlands Cricket Website.

Last five completed T20I matches:

Netherlands: L, W, W, L, L.

Zimbabwe: L, L, L, L, L

Pitch Condition/Report:

The Hazelaarweg in Rotterdam hosted four T20Is thus far with all of them recording totals in the range of 135-160. The chasing sides have a good chance of chasing down anything around 150. The same could continue in the series between Netherlands and Zimbabwe.

Average first innings score: 148 (Four T20Is)

Record of chasing teams: Won – 2, Lost – 2

Probable Playing XIs:

Netherlands:

Max O’Dowd, Tobias Visée, Ben Cooper, Bas de Leede, Wesley Barresi, Scott Edwards (WK), Roelof van der Merwe, Pieter Seelaar (C), Fred Klaassen, Vivian Kingma, Paul van Meekeren.

Bench – Brandon Glover, Saqib Zulfiqar.

Zimbabwe:

Hamilton Masakadza (C), Solomon Mire, Brendan Taylor, Craig Ervine, Peter Moor, Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, Ainsley Ndlovu, Donald Tiripano, Kyle Jarvis, Tendai Chatara.

Bench – Chris Mpofu, Ryan Burl, Richmond Mutumbami, Elton Chigumbura, Tinashe Kamunhukamwe.

Team News:

(Will be added when there is an update)

Power Picks:

Craig Ervine is averaging 109.33 in the Twenty20s he played in 2019. He scored 328 runs across six innings this year with help of four fifties including three 70+ scores. In 44 T20 innings prior to 2019, Ervine scored only 726 runs at an average of 19.1. He scored only two fifties in those 44 innings with a best of 71 which he bettered three times this year.

Captain and Vice-Captain Selection:

The top-order bats Craig Ervine, Brendan Taylor, Tobias Visée and Max O’Dowd will be crucial in this game. The four batsmen had good outings in the 2nd ODI and would look to make most of their form in T20Is. Solomon Mire can be a surprise package if he gets going. The all-rounders Roelof van der Merwe, Sean Williams and Sikandar Raza are always ideal for vice-captain option.

Suggested Playing XI No.1 for Fantasy Cricket:

Keeper – Brendan Taylor, Tobias Visée

Batters – Solomon Mire, Craig Ervine (C), Max O’Dowd

All-Rounders – Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, Roelof van der Merwe (VC)

Bowlers – Donald Tiripano, Paul van Meekeren, Pieter Seelaar

Suggested Playing XI No.2 for Fantasy Cricket:

Keeper – Brendan Taylor (C), Tobias Visée (VC)

Batters – Ben Cooper, Craig Ervine, Solomon Mire, Bas de Leede

All-Rounders – Sean Williams, Roelof van der Merwe

Bowlers – Pieter Seelaar, Tendai Chatara, Kyle Jarvis

Expert Advice:

Picking top-order players of both sides helps in taking more costly all-rounders. Among the all-rounders, only Sikandar Raza can be skipper given his batting position and chance of bowling fewer overs.

Probable Winners:

The Netherlands have a better all-round team compared to Zimbabwe for T20Is which could help in taking a 1-0 lead.

*Disclaimer: This team is based on the understanding, analysis and instinct of the author. While selecting your team, consider the points mentioned and make your own decision.