Zimbabwe hope for plain sailing against the Dutch

It is ironic, but nevertheless true, to say that the first encounter between Zimbabwe and the Netherlands at a World Cup competition is less important to either team than their two previous meetings.

For the two teams met in 1986 and 1990 on both occasions to contest the final of the ICC Trophy for associate members. For the winner, the reward was a place in the World Cup competition that was to follow, in Asia and Australasia respectively. The loser was left to lick its wounds and try again in four years' time. It was that cruel.

Had the Dutch won either of those matches, especially the 1990 encounter, Zimbabwe's cricketing history would probably have been very different. But fortified by their years of history as a first-class team, they won both and went on to gain Test status in 1992.

The harder of those battles was in 1986. The venue was Lord's, London, and the weather was hideous, the reserve day being needed to complete the contest. Zimbabwe lost the toss and were put in to bat on a green pitch in conditions greatly favouring the bowlers.

They needed every ounce of their experience as they battled to reach 243 for nine off their 60 overs. The hero was Karoi farmer Robin Brown, who battled for 51 of those overs to score 60 and held the early batting together. As conditions eased, Andy Waller hit an aggressive 59 and the batsmen scored 73 off the last nine overs.

Conditions were altogether better when the Netherlands batted, and in the 36th over they reached a promising 109 for one. A titanic struggle ensued, but then the Dutch suffered some bad luck when their leading batsman Steve Lubbers injured his ankle, forcing him to retire temporarily. With the result in doubt almost to the end, Zimbabwe eventually triumphed by 25 runs. Iain Butchart took four wickets for 33, but Brown was deservedly Man of the Match. Zimbabwe could not have won without him.

An equally close contest could be expected in 1990, when the tournament was played in Holland and so they had home advantage. But Zimbabwe's extra experience again proved crucial. The Netherlands' batsmen perhaps lost their nerve, and after winning the toss they managed only 197 for nine in their 60 overs. Ali Shah took four for 56, but the man who did most to persuade the batsmen to self-destruct was the vastly experienced off-spinner John Traicos, whose 12 overs cost only 19 runs for one wicket.

Andy Flower, then aged 22, dominated the Zimbabwe reply. He scored 69 not out, winning the Man of the Match award, and his partnership of 93 with Andy Pycroft (45) virtually guaranteed Zimbabwe victory, which came by six wickets.

Since then, the two teams have gone their different ways. Zimbabwe were actively pursuing Test status, and it was theirs two years later. The Netherlands at that time and for years afterwards had no such ambitions, especially as almost all their cricket was played on matting. They did play in the World Cup of 1995/96, without success, and have only resurfaced for the present tournament.

Zimbabwe are currently at a low ebb, with their bowling the weakest for many years. But their vastly greater experience alone makes them overwhelming favourites to beat the Dutch in this World Cup encounter.

The teams are not total strangers to each other. Both have two players who took part in the 1990 match: Zimbabwe have the Flower brothers and the Netherlands their 40-year-old captain Roland Lefebvre and leading batsman Tim de Leede. Lefebvre also played in 1986. Media manager Rudi Onstein names these two veterans as the key players in the team.

Zimbabwe have never yet been defeated in an official match by an associate member. They are not yet secure enough in the top echelon to become over-confident when playing those below them, although no doubt that day will come. They are far more confident playing the weaker countries, as they still have something of an inferiority complex against the senior Test-playing countries. And they make the most of their chances. They will be determined to show the Dutch no quarter, knowing that they have little chance of beating senior countries in their present debilitated condition.

The Netherlands' main strengths on their showings so far have been their bowling and fielding, while Zimbabwe are stronger in batting. Mr Onstein names his team's batting as its major downfall, and certainly they have been unable to find a settled or successful batting order. The weak Dutch batting and the weak Zimbabwean bowling may well prove a tonic for one side or the other. No information has been released from either side regarding possible team changes.

The one wild card might be the weather. Much of Zimbabwe has experienced prolonged rain over the past few days, although Bulawayo has escaped the worst. Today in Bulawayo was a mixture of sun and drizzle, but locals think the match day should be drier. Zimbabwe will be sincerely hoping they are right.