Netherlands, Namibia eye first victory

The World T20 match between The Netherlands and Namibia at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Tuesday would not be classified as a do-or-die tie. Nor will it be a big draw for the IPL mad fans of the National Capital.

However, for both The Netherlands and Namibia, it is a crucial encounter. The Dutch are coming into this match on the back of a gut-wrenching three-wicket loss against Pakistan.

For Namibia, who play their first match, a loss would also dent their hopes of qualifying for the Super 8s. Only two teams from the group will make the cut for the next round and with two superpowers of the cricketing world, India and Pakistan, clubbed in the same group, the task of these two Associate countries is very hard.

The first round matches have given the so-called lesser countries a hope. On Sunday, Nepal came within a ball to upset England in Mumbai and previously the Dutch rattled the Pakistanis in Colombo, dragging them to the last over finish despite defending a small total.

Namibia's middle-order mainstay Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, who holds the record of fastest T20 international century, a 33-ball ton against Nepal last year, certainly thinks that the gap between the Associate nations and Test playing countries are closing, especially in the shortest format. Loftie-Eaton certainly thinks that Namibia will be fighting for a spot in the Super 8s.

“In T20, anyone, any team can beat anyone on any given day. I don't think it is disrespectful to call us that (minnows). We are smaller nations compared to the bigger nations but I think the gap is getting closed over the last few years,” the batting all-rounder told the media.

“We have been getting more exposure against top teams. Every second year we play in a World Cup and you are going rubbing shoulders with the best in the world. Cricket Namibia has done an amazing job for us to play against Zimbabwe, play against South Africa. So yeah the gaps, ultimately closing, especially in T20 cricket,” he added.

Their opponents, the Dutch, showed they have enough firepower to unsettle any batting line up. Despite the disappointment of failing to win when Pakistan was on the ropes, the Scott Edwards led side let it slip out of their hands. However, as all rounder Colin Ackermann said they have moved on from the loss.

“It was naturally a very disappointing result for us. But the nature of this tournament is that the games come thick and fast. So we’ve parked that. Part of the DNA of this Netherlands team is that we take ownership of our performances and our roles, and we learn from past experiences,” Ackermann said on the eve of the match.

“When we got off the bus in Delhi, coach Ryan Cook said the past is the past, there’s nothing we can do about it and we must look forward to the next game against Namibia,” he added.