The solitary T20I match between New Zealand and Netherlands, which was scheduled to be played at McLean Park, Napier on Friday, 25 March was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to rain.
This was contrary to the weather forecast. It was expected to be cool with a moderate breeze, but the match was supposed to be completed with little chance of rain. Clearly weather forecasters in New Zealand are no more accurate in their predictions than the contemporaries the world over!
On paper, this was shaping up to be a David vs Goliath contest. However, what gave the Dutch some hope was the fact that the home side was without up to 12 regulars due to their IPL commitments. However, thanks to the depth of New Zealand cricket, they were still able to name a strong team. The selectors also viewed this as an ideal opportunity to blood a few youngsters. Dane Cleaver and Michael Bracewell performed well in this season’s Super Smash, and were in line for their international debuts.
The Netherlands came into this match with little expected of them, but they still regarded it as a useful measuring stick to see where they are now. They were very disappointing in last year’s T20 World Cup. However, they still have three ODIs to showcase their potential.
And they had the advantage of a spy in the camp in Logan van Beek, who plays his domestic cricket in New Zealand and has won consecutive Super Smash titles. He knows all about the opposition and he would have been able to brief his team mates as to what to expect in Napier.
For New Zealand, this was to be their first T20I since losing 0-3 in India last November. They were scheduled to play Australia earlier in the year, but Covid-19 led to that series being cancelled. Now that wait must go on to play in the shortest format of the game.
Attention now shifts to the ODI series, which will mark Ross Taylor's farewell from international cricket. The first match will take place at the Bay Oval in Tauranga on Tuesday. All concerned will be hope for better luck with the weather.