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Netherlands will be hosting Ireland in the opening game of their exciting three-match ODI series, scheduled for Wednesday (June 2) at the Sportpark Maarschalkerweerd in Utrecht.
The Dutch will finally begin their campaign in the ongoing ICC Super League cycle against their Irish counterparts, with some advantage of home conditions in their favour.
Netherlands also hosted their other European rivals, Scotland, in the build-up to the Ireland challenge and drew 1-1 in a two-match series at Hazelaarweg in Rotterdam.
Ireland have had two series in the Super League so far, both in foreign conditions in England and Afghanistan. They pulled off an inspirational victory in their 2-1 defeat to the 2019 World Cup champions in Southampton last year but embarrassingly went down 3-0 to the Afghans in early 2021 in Abu Dhabi.
This, against the Netherlands, will be Ireland’s third away series of the cycle on the bounce as they strive for some crucial points against their former associate brethren. Test cricket’s newest entrants wouldn’t want to be in a position by the end of the cycle where they are vulnerable of facing relegation. The Irish missed out on the 2019 World Cup but have a chance to keep themselves relevant in the race to qualify for the 2023 edition of the quadrennial event.
Key players
Paul Stirling has been Ireland’s best batsman in the ICC Super League so far. The aggressive right-hand batter has made 441 runs from his 6 outings in the cycle with an average of 73.50 and strike-rate of 99.54. Stirling made a stellar century in Ireland’s morale-boosting victory against arch-rivals England last year and backed it up with a couple of fantastic hundreds versus Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi this January. Stirling has been Ireland’s stand-out performer in ODIs over the years, with a record better than most of his teammates in games against fellow full-member countries.
Curtis Campher is second on the list of top Irish run-getters for the Super League till now. Campher has struck 225 runs from his 5 innings at an average of 56.25 and has looked to play anchor through the innings. In what is still a very young career for Ireland, Campher is averaging 50.83 with the bat and has taken 8 wickets while carrying an economy rate of 5.76 with the ball. Campher will be hoping to contribute in both the departments as Ireland eye crucial points against the Netherlands to progress in the Super League points table.
Andy McBrine is Ireland’s top wicket-taker and also their second most economical bowler in the ICC Super League right now. The experienced off-spinner has taken 7 wickets from his 6 outings at an average of 34.28 and economy rate of just 4.70 runs per over. McBrine’s spin prowess has been integral to Ireland’s journey. He has gone for only 4.44 runs per over in his overall ODI career, with 55 scalps from 51 games.
Simi Singh is only second to McBrine in the wicket-taking charts for Ireland, with five scalps to his name from as many games at an average of 30.40 and an economy rate of 4.44. The 34-year-old off-spinner has played 24 ODIs for Ireland with 28 wickets while conceding only 3.90 runs per over.
Max O’Dowd was Netherlands’ best batsman during their short ODI series against Scotland recently. The right-hand opening batsman played a fantastic knock of 82 in the Netherlands’ victory in the first ODI in Rotterdam. In his very young four-match-long ODI career, Max has now scored 235 runs at an average of 78.33 with three half-centuries to his name.
Vivian Kingma ended the series against Scotland as the Netherlands’ highest wicket-taker with five scalps from his two outings at an average of just 8.80 while conceding only 2.93 runs per over. The 26-year-old right-arm medium pace bowler will be taking the confidence forward from the fixtures against Scotland into the matches versus the Irish and try and help the Dutch clinch a victory or two as they look to get on board in the ICC Super League.
Prediction
The Netherlands-Ireland three-match rubber has gained prominence and importance because of the added context of the ICC Super League, which determines direct qualification spots for the 2023 World Cup in India.
Through the series, Ireland will be looking to stand resurrected following their 3-0 drubbing in Abu Dhabi against Afghanistan. But their task won’t at all be easier, keeping in mind Netherlands have been a constantly improving limited-overs side.
The Dutch will need more from their batting unit after the struggles against Scotland in the twin ODIs in Rotterdam, while the Irish will be hoping for more contributions from their pace unit in conditions quite similar to home terrain. Still, Ireland comparatively look the much-better placed unit and can start off the ODI series on a winning note.
