ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers 2023: ZIM vs NED Match 5 Playing XI and Fantasy Cricket Tips
Zimbabwe vs Netherlands Match Details
This is Group A Match where the host Zimbabwe is taking on the Dutch side of the Netherlands. The match would be played at Harare Sports Club in Harare on June 20. Zimbabwe is off to a fabulous start in this tournament as they beat Nepal comfortably by 8 wickets. The team is looking in good shape and would come into this contest with huge confidence. The Netherlands are playing their first game of this tournament and their key players are missing since they are doing other international duties. They will look to put up a strong fight against the host.
Pitch Report
The pitch at the Harare Sports Club is even-handed. A previous game setting a high score suggests the same may happen again. The team that wins the coin toss will probably choose to field and we could have a high-scoring match in our hands.
ZIM vs NED Teams Analysis
Zimbabwe
They are off to a winning start and would like to extend their winning momentum. They have also maintained an undefeated streak in their last three games. The team secured a convincing victory by eight wickets in their inaugural World Cup qualifier match against Nepal. Although Nepal set a substantial target of 290 runs while batting first, Zimbabwe’s Richard Ngarava took four wickets to restrict them. Meanwhile, Kushal Bhurtel from Nepal played impressively and scored 99 runs. In the chase for victory, captain Ervine’s exceptional performance with an unbeaten score of 121 ensured a triumphant opening for Zimbabwe in the World Cup qualifiers.
Sean Williams played a brilliant knock of 102 runs with a tremendous strike rate of over 145. The two senior batsmen, captain Craig Ervine and Sean Williams have done their best. Sean scored the fastest ODI hundred by a Zimbabwean on just 70 balls. The bowling looks settled and is in the groove. They have the likes of Ngarva, Muzarabani, W Masakadza, T Chatara and other part-time bowlers like S Raza and S Williams. Overall, they would enjoy their home conditions and the Netherlands needs to strategize properly before coming into this game.
Netherlands
They are playing their first game without their key players Colin Ackermann, Fred Klaasen, Paul van Meekeren and Vivian Kingma. The wicketkeeper batter Scott Edwards is leading the team. They would want their 4-match losing streak here. The top order looks solid and this is their main strength. V Singh and Max O’Dowd provide a fine start to the innings. Teja Nidamanaru, Scott Edwards and Bas de Leede handle the middle order. The bowling looks a bit weak comparatively in the absence of F Klaasen and V Kingma. This might hurt them in this opening match.
In April 2023, they lost badly against a much stronger side South Africa by 2-0 in the two-match ODI series at home. Before that, in March 2023, the Netherlands toured Zimbabwe for three-match ODI series which they lost by 2-1. However, in the World Cup Qualifier matches that concluded last week, they won against Ireland but lost to Sri Lanka by a decent margin. So, the year 2023 hasn’t been great so far and they need to improve on their bowling department especially.
ZIM vs NED Head-to-Head Records
Whenever these two sides met, the contest has been even and they won equal matches. Out of 6 matches played between them, both won 3 matches each.
| Matches Played | ZIM won | NED won | Tie | No result |
| 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
ZIM vs NED Key Players To Watch
We are taking stats from ZIM vs NED three-match ODI series in March 2023 to understand how the players performed against the opposition.
Zimbabwe
| Player | Matches | Runs | Bat. Avg. | Bat. SR | Wickets | Bowl. Avg. |
| C Madande | 3 | 126 | 63 | 81.2 | ||
| S Williams | 2 | 120 | 60 | 95.2 | ||
| W Madhevere | 3 | 110 | 36.6 | 85.2 | 4 | 22.5 |
| S Raza | 3 | 5 | 25 | |||
| W Masakadza | 2 | 3 | 16.3 |
Netherlands
| Player | Matches | Runs | Bat. Avg. | Bat. SR | Wickets | Bowl. Avg. |
| M O’Dowd | 3 | 139 | 46.3 | 72.7 | ||
| T Nidamanaru | 3 | 128 | 64 | 100.7 | ||
| S Ahmad | 3 | 8 | 17.8 | |||
| S Edwards | 3 | 77 | 25.6 | 96.2 |
ZIM vs NED Squads
Zimbabwe
Craig Ervine(c), Wessly Madhevere, Joylord Gumbie, Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, Ryan Burl, Clive Madande(wk), Wellington Masakadza, Richard Ngarava, Tendai Chatara, Blessing Muzarabani, Luke Jongwe, Innocent Kaia, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Brad Evans
Netherlands
Max ODowd, Vikramjit Singh, Wesley Barresi, Scott Edwards(w/c), Teja Nidamanuru, Bas de Leede, Shariz Ahmad, Aryan Dutt, Logan van Beek, Vivian Kingma, Saqib Zulfiqar, Clayton Floyd, Ryan Klein, Michael Levitt, Noah Croes
ZIM vs NED Match 5 Fantasy Predictions
Zimbabwe
Netherlands
ZIM vs NED Predicted Playing XI
Zimbabwe
Clive Madande(wk), Joylord Gumbie, Craig Ervine(c), Wessly Madhevere, Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, Ryan Burl, Wellington Masakadza, Richard Ngarava, Tendai Chatara, Blessing Muzarabani
Netherlands
Max ODowd, Vikramjit Singh, Wesley Barresi, Bas de Leede, Teja Nidamanuru, Scott Edwards(c & wk), Saqib Zulfiqar, Logan van Beek, Shariz Ahmad, Aryan Dutt, Clayton Floyd/ Ryan Klein
ZIM vs NED Fantasy Playing XI
Based on the stats above, this could be the fantasy team.
Conclusion
The ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers 2023 is underway and this is going to be an exciting contest because Zimbabwe is coming into this match with two back-to-back wins while the Netherlands is on a four-match losing streak. The host would enjoy the home conditions and surely bank on them. The Netherlands would want to avenge their series loss and start their campaign with a bang. Can they break the host’s winning streak and will Zimbabwe make the hat-trick of wins? Only time will tell us.
Cricket bettors should keep an eye out on the changing cricket sportsbook odds to get an edge against the house when betting live.
