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Multiple New Zealanders have shone at the Cricket World Cup Qualifiers for the Netherlands. The Dutch were able to make their way to the World Cup, following a tremendous win over Scotland, who were coached by New Zealanders, Doug Watson (current Aces head coach) and assisted by Glenn Pocknall (current CD FC and LA coach). Former Central Districts and Auckland coach, Heinrich Malan also coached Ireland at the tournament.
Logan van Beek was certainly a star for the Netherlands side and assisted greatly in their eventual qualification to the World Cup in India. van Beek had the most memorable moment of the tournament in the game vs the West Indies. After being taken for 77 runs, van Beek got the Netherlands within touching distance of winning the game, with the bat. He scored a crucial knock of 28 from 14, just when his side needed it! Unfortunately for the Dutch, he was out off the last ball, but since the game was a tie it went to a super over. From the super over he sent the over for 4, 6, 4, 6, 6, 4. This gave the West Indies a target of 31 to win the game, but van Beek was also up to the task with the bowling, conceding only eight runs from the over and taking two wickets in it. van Beek also had a good game against the USA, taking 4/24 and also took 3/26 against Sri Lanka in the Super Six game. Overall at the tournament, van Beek scored 75 runs (during the allotted 50 overs) @25. He also contributed 30 runs off Jason Holder in the super over. van Beek also took 12 wickets during the tournament in the eight games he played.
Aucklander Max O’Dowd also shone for the Dutch during the World Cup qualifiers. O’Dowd had a great tournament with the bat for the Dutch, being the third top run scorer for the side, with only captain Scott Edwards and other opener, Vikramjit Singh being ahead of O’Dowd. O’Dowd had two scores above 50 across the tournament, including making 90 vs Nepal. O’Dowd had many good stands with Vikramjit with the pair working well together to get the Netherlands off to good starts. Across the tournament, O’Dowd scored 299 runs @37.37, with a high score of 90 against Nepal.
Former Auckland Aces player, Teja Nidamanuru also represented the Netherlands at the qualifiers. Across the tournament Nidamanuru scored one century, against the West Indies, which helped them to get over the line, before van Beek did his thing. Nidamanuru also scored a 50 against the USA. Both of these knocks were crucial to getting points, as the Netherlands got through to the Cricket World Cup via Net Run Rate and a Bas de Leede special!
There were also two current New Zealand domestic coaches and a former domestic coach at the qualifying tournament. Current Auckland Aces head coach, Doug Watson was selected to coach Scotland. Watson also managed to get Central Districts Ford Trophy and First Class coach, Glenn Pocknall on his coaching team. The Scotland side had a very impressive tournament and were extremely unlucky to miss out on qualifying for the World Cup. They recorded victories over Ireland, the UAE, Oman in the group stages, before a loss to Sri Lanka left them second in their group. During the Super Sixes stage, they recorded a seven wicket win over the West Indies, causing the West Indies to be knocked out of the tournament and have no chance of making the World Cup. Scotland then recorded a 31 run win over Zimbabwe, leaving the game against the Netherlands a do or die situation. The Netherlands needed to chase 278, in 45 overs (due to NRR requirements). It was looking likely that the Watson coached Scots would be making the World Cup, until a special Bas de Leede 100 got the Netherlands the victory with 1.1 over before the 45 over mark.
Ireland head coach, Heinrich Malan did not have the best campaign in Zimbabwe. The Irish lost the first three games of the tournament, suffering a wicket loss to Oman, a one wicket loss to Scotland and a 133 run loss to Sri Lanka. Ireland finally picked up their first group stage victory in the last game vs the UAE, where they recorded a 138 run win! In the playoff games, Ireland had a 6 wicket win over the USA and they had a 2 wicket win over Nepal in the 7/8th playoff, meaning they got 7th at the qualifiers.
Overall, most of the New Zealanders had good tournaments and represented their countries with pride.
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