Netherlands and Nepal begin their 2024 T20 World Cup campaign with different perspectives - Netherlands had a very good tournament back in 2022, ousting South Africa and also ensuring that they had a direct qualification to this year's tournament.

For Nepal, it's all about enjoying the moment, this is their first World Cup appearance since 2014 and they'll be under no illusions or pressure.

Netherlands have won the toss and will bowl first

Grand Prairie has looked the best batting deck in the tournament so far, looking a tougher track for bowlers when the USA played Canada last week than the 167 MLC first innings average would suggest. The ground has seen some heavy weather again since then, but recovered well after the washed-out warm ups. Expect some early help for seamers but for set bats to cash in later on.

A first turn on the global stage in ten years, Nepal's qualification for this T20 World Cup sparked wild celebrations throughout the country when they bested old foes UAE at Mulpani in the decisive semi-final of the Asia Regional finals last year. A pinnacle ICC tournament will be a new experience for all but pace spearhead Sompal Kami, the only remaining member of the squad that turned heads at the 2014 edition. For all the novelty however, it's a reassuringly familiar opponent that Nepal will be facing first up at Dallas. The young Nepal squad and their legions of fans know the Netherlands well, the two countries regularly exchanging tours in both formats, the Dutch visiting Kathmandu most recently in February this year.

The Netherlands conversely have been World Cup regulars of late, their showing at the 2022 T20 tournament earning them direct qualification here, while their run to the 10-team fifty over World Cup last year has further raised expectations. Yet as Associate standard-bearers the Dutch know better than anyone not to take their peers lightly, certainly not Nepal in front of what might as well be a home crowd for the Rhinos at Dallas.