Cooper stars as Netherlands down UAE in World T20 qualifier

After choosing to field at the Grange Cricket Club Ground in Edinburgh, the Dutch bowlers bowlers, led by Roelof van der Merwe (2 for 10 in four overs), kept UAE down to 119 for 7 in 20 overs. Ben Cooper then anchored the chase with an unbeaten half-century as Netherlands reached 125 for 3 in 17.1 overs to record an easy win. 

Timm van der Gugten provided the opening breakthrough when he bowled Mohammad Shahzad for 13. Faizan Asif, the other opener, fell for 17 in the next over to Ahsan Malik to leave UAE 35 for 2. 

Shaiman Anwar (15) and Swapnil Patil (34), the wicketkeeper, then began the rebuilding process and put on 44 for the third wicket. However, they consumed 45 balls in doing so. When Michael Ripoon, the left-arm chinaman bowler, had Anwar caught to end the association, UAE had 79 on the board with eight overs to go.

Patil fell soon after, and Netherlands’ bowlers then made sure they prevented any late surge as UAE lost wickets in a cluster, going from 99 for 4 to 116 for 7. 

Van der Merwe found good support from Rippon, who ended with 2 for 14 in three overs, and Malik, the right-arm medium pacer whose four overs fetched him returns of 2 for 17 in four overs. 

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Manjula Guruge, the left-arm pacer, struck in the fourth over of the Netherlands chase when he had Stephan Myburgh caught for 10. Wesley Barresi, the other opener, fell two overs later when he was caught off Mohammad Naveed for 18. 

Cooper then did the bulk of the scoring in a 54-run third-wicket stand with Michael Swart to shut the doors on a fightback.

Fayyaz Ahmed castled Swart but with the score on 86 then and more than five overs left, the probability of a win for UAE was very slim.

Peter Borren, the Netherlands captain, then joined Cooper and made a quickfire 23 off just 10 balls to see his team through. Borren struck three boundaries and a six, while Cooper finished with three boundaries and as many hits over the fence. 

“We did not post a competitive total,” Tauqir said after the match. “It was a good wicket and 119 was not good enough. Par score was always 150 plus. Their bowlers choked our batsmen, who should have been a bit more careful. It is disapointing that we lost three games, but we are looking forward to doing well in the remaining matches. We need three wins in three matches.”

Netherlands will face Oman next in Edinburgh on Tuesday, while UAE takes on Canada on the same day at Stirling.