ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier: Oman vs Netherlands – Players to watch out for

Khawar Ali and Roelof van der Merwe will hope to make the difference for their respective outfits.

New Delhi: Oman and Netherlands will take on each other in an intense battle in the ICC World Twenty20 qualifiying first round Group A encounter on Thursday at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala.

Oman surprised and shocked Ireland to win their opening qualifying match, and will look to continue with that positive factor on Friday. Oman will expect to face a tricky test against Netherlands.

Oman will rely on their front three batsmen to continue with providing a solid start and platform upfront. The onus of Amir Ali down the order is of a big substance.

The Orange will have to claim a victory in order to stay alive for qualification. They bowled well against Bangladesh in the opening game but fell short while chasing. This time they will have to address that against a spirited Oman attack.

Netherlands almost pipped Bangladesh and despite the loss, their performance was a notable effort. This encounter is of high substance for both sides and here is a look at the players to watch out for.

Khawar Ali (Oman): The talented opening batsman will be eager to give a solid platform for his side. Ali was a treat to watch against Ireland and he played a crucial role in Oman's victory with a substantial knock of 34 runs. Ali is highly valuable for this Oman outfit given his prowess with the ball too. He contributed with the ball against Ireland and got a crucial wicket as well. Oman will bank on this talented player to help them put up an impressive show.

Roelof van der Merwe (Netherlands): Van der Merwe has been a key figure across the globe in T20 cricket and he used to play for South African national side before representing Netherlands. His experience in Indian conditions is valuable given his role for IPL franchies in previous seasons. He will be eager to get his side past Oman in this match after not quite impressing in the first game against Bangladesh. His variations would be crucial in the Dharamsala wicket.