World Cup 2023: Netherlands Seek to Sustain Momentum Against Afghanistan

Lucknow: The Netherlands, fresh off a win against Bangladesh, are looking to maintain their momentum as they prepare to face Afghanistan in Lucknow. Dutch all-rounder Colin Ackermann emphasized their familiarity with the Lucknow conditions, having previously played at the BRSABVE Stadium, albeit narrowly losing to Sri Lanka.

“Following our recent victory against Bangladesh, we have some momentum on our side,” Ackermann stated. “Our prior experience at this venue sets us apart from Afghanistan, who haven’t played here before. We hope this familiarity with the conditions will work in our favor.”

Despite winning two games in the same World Cup for the first time and climbing from the bottom of the table to eighth place, the Netherlands’ chances of reaching the semi-finals remain slim. Ackermann acknowledged that their batting unit hasn’t been consistently firing.

“We recognize the capabilities of our middle and lower order to score runs in the latter stages of the game,” Ackermann noted. “Our goal is to establish a strong foundation with our top-order, and solid partnerships from the top three or four batters will set us up for a competitive total.”

Ackermann, who specializes in off-spin bowling, emphasized the need for caution when facing Afghanistan, particularly their spin trio of Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and Mohammad Nabi.

“Afghanistan boasts three accomplished spinners who have excelled in T20 cricket,” Ackermann commented. “In the 50-overs format, there’s no rush to attack them from the outset. We plan to assess the conditions and take a measured approach. Teams that have succeeded against them have played patiently, avoiding wickets in the middle overs. Afghanistan also has formidable seamers, so surviving the powerplay will be crucial before dealing with spin in the middle overs.”