Netherlands v Zimbabwe T20 World Cup Tips: Dutch can push Zims hard

• Adelaide pitch offers toss bias
• Crack Dutch bowling key
• Raza a wager at 5/1

Netherlands v Zimbabwe
Wednesday 2 October, 04:00
TV: Live on Sky Sports

Team news

Zimbabwe's semi-final dream looks to be over. The three-run defeat by Bangladesh was a hammer blow. They really should have won the game to still be alive and kicking.

Their bowling has been consistently excellent. Their batting less so. The top order routinely flops.

Probable XI: Madhevere, Ervine, Shumba, Williams, Raza, Chakabva, Burl, Evans, Ngarava, Muzarabani, Chatara

The Dutch have a similar strength and weakness. There is absolutely nothing wrong with their work in their field, the best example being restricting India to 179 on a flat one at the SCG. But again, their top order routinely is back in the hutch quickly.

Blown away by pace against Pakistan last time out, they willl feel much more comfortable against a fellow Associate here.

Probable XI: O'Dowd, Myburgh, de Leede, Cooper, Ackermann, Edwards, van der Merwe, Pringle, van Beek, Klaasen

Pitch report

Adelaide has been decent for batting in the last 20 matches. Eleven of those have seen first-innings scores of 160 or more. Importantly, there is a toss bias with fourteen of those won by the team batting first, With both bowling units string, this is not an overs game on the par line even if set in the late 140s.

How to play

We're fond of Zimbabwe for the fun they've provided this tournament but we abandon them here. They are no 1.4840/85 shots with a toss bias in play against a reliable Netherlands bowling attack. The Dutch can at least flip these odds from their starting point of 3.002/1.

The pair have met three times since 2019 and they have been close, competitive affairs. Indeed one was a tie in 2019. It's one win apiece otherwise.

Tops value

Sikandar Raza is, just about, value for top Zimbabwe bat at 5/1 with Sportsbook. He's managed two game-changing knocks but apart from that has been a little disappointing. Now might be the time to put faith in him. He is surprisingly big at 10s for man of the match.