Both teams had already qualified but a stunning collapse of 6-17 by the Netherlands saw them enter Group A at this year’s T20 World Cup, with Zimbabwe into Group B.
A miserly four-wicket haul from Zimbabwe tweaker Sikandar Raza spurred his side to a 37-run win over the Netherlands in the final of T20 World Cup Qualifier B tournament in Bulawayo.
Both nations had already secured their spot at the T20 World Cup to be held in Australia in October-November with the victory putting Zimbabwe into Group B of the first round alongside Ireland, Scotland and West Indies.
Netherlands, who are coached by former Australian wicketkeeper Ryan Campbell, will join Namibia, Sri Lanka and United Arab Emirates in Group A and will kick off their campaign on the opening day of the tournament against the UAE in Geelong on Sunday October 16.
Zimbabwe will play their first match against Ireland the following day at Blundstone Arena in Hobart.
The top two teams from each group of the first round will join the remaining eight ICC full member nations in the second stage of the tournament.
Experienced allrounder Raza, whose two half centuries in the tournament has put him inside the top 10 run-scorers in T20 internationals this year with 389, crippled the Netherlands’ middle-order after the hosts were bowled out for an under-par 132 in the final over.
The Dutch reached 2-45 in the seventh over before Raza’s 4-8 from four overs contributed to a stunning collapse of 6-17.
“It’s unbelievable,” said Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine.
“This is what we used to know Zimbabwe cricket to be like, all the supporters coming out and cheering for us.
“And over the past week, we’ve definitely given them something to cheer about. From the players’ point of view, it’s good to see the cheers and the happiness back in the crowd.”
Three wickets from seamer Logan van Beek had earlier helped restrict Zimbabwe to a modest total before the Dutch crumbled to 95 all out in the penultimate over.
“We got what we came here for in qualifying for the World Cup, it’s just a little bit disappointing that we couldn’t perform in the final,” said the Netherlands Australian-raised skipper Scott Edwards.
“Each group (at the World Cup) has got its challenges, so we’ll prepare for Australia and the teams we are playing against and see how we go.”
Zimbabwe had qualified for the World Cup with a 27-run victory against Papua New Guinea in the first semi-final on Friday, while the Netherlands breezed home by seven wickets with six balls to spare in the second semi-final against USA.
Sri Lanka and Namibia are set to open the first stage of the tournament at GMHBA Stadium in Geelong on October 16, with Australia’s first match against New Zealand at the SCG six days later.
Men’s T20 World Cup 2022
First round
Group A: Sri Lanka, Namibia, UAE, Netherlands
Group B: West Indies, Scotland, Ireland, Zimbabwe
Super 12 stage
Group 1: Australia, Afghanistan, England, New Zealand, A1, B2
Group 2: Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, South Africa, B1, A2
Click here for a full 2022 T20 World Cup fixture
Semi-finals
Nov 9: SCG, 7pm AEDT
Nov 10: Adelaide Oval, 7pm AEDT
Final
Nov 13: MCG, 7pm AEDT
