Netherlands prepare for in-form Sri Lanka

Proud to represent the Associates, says Borren.

CHITTAGONG: The Netherlands will take pride from being the only Associate team to make the Super-10 stage of the World Twenty20 as they prepare to step up their game, said captain Peter Borren Sunday.

The team denied the odds through an exhilarating 190-run chase in their Group B game against Ireland.

They are now gearing up to take on World Twenty20 number one Sri Lanka in their opening Group One match on Monday.

“We are very proud of the fact that we are representing the associates here,” said Borren. “We hope that we can do the associates proud.

“It’s an achievement in itself that we are the only associate to have made it this far and that is very satisfying.

“For us we’ve had a pretty tough few months. Having failed to qualify in New Zealand, we are not quite sure what the International Cricket Council are going to do moving forward.

Borren is happy with the underdogs title given to the Netherlands. The captain said he relishes playing alongside top teams.

“It was a euphoric evening. We now we have a job to do. We watched Sri Lanka, they were very good against South Africa. They are a top team, as every team in this group is. It’s going to be very competitive.”

Du Plessis a doubt ahead of NZ clash

South Africa’s captain Faff du Plessis, who missed out their first encounter of the World Twenty20 against Sri Lanka, is doubtful to be fit against their crucial encounter with New Zealand on Monday, in Chittagong.

South Africa suffered a defeat against Sri Lanka, while New Zealand is fresh off a victory against England. The clash will be of utmost importance to the Proteas as a defeat can potentially see them go out of the World Twenty20, resulting in another disappointing world event.

South Africa’s JP Duminy feels his squad should win the remaining group matches in order to progress.

“There’s always going to be that added pressure on us now, depending on how other results go, we’re probably going to have to win all three,” he said, according to ESPNcricinfo.

“We’ve never tackled them in the format. We have a lot of respect for them, they’re a very good side in all formats.

We’re looking forward to the challenge of playing against some of the best players in the world.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 24^th, 2014.

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