The Dutch women's team will make history in at least two ways on Monday, when they take the field against Zimbabwe at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Dhaka: they have never played Zimbabwe in that country's brief international career, and it will be first time they have played in Bangladesh.

Much more importantly, however, their opening match in the Women's World Cup qualifying tournament will give them an opportunity to measure themselves against one of the newest sides in women's cricket - the Zimbabweans played their first international as recently as 2006 - and to start their campaign with a victory.

Captained by 29-year-old allrounder Sharne Mayers, Zimbabwe beat Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania to claim one of the two African qualification places in this tournament, although they were completely outclassed by South Africa in the final of the qualifier, conceding 314 for four and then collapsing to 33 all out in just 20 overs.

But South Africa will be one of the strongest teams in Bangladesh, and the Orange Lionesses will not be making any rash assumptions about the challenge represented by Zimbabwe.

Their batting will probably be built around the experienced lefthander Julia Chibhabha, Mayers' predecessor in the captaincy, with two other lefthanders, 19-year-old opener Ashley Ndiraya and Precious Marange also figuring in the top six.

The Zimbabweans will also be hoping that plenty of runs come from the bats of 21-year-old Christabel Chatonzwa and wicketkeeper Nonhlanhla Nyathi .

The seam attack may be led by Sharyce Saini and Pellagia Mujaji, with spin provided by Mayers' off-breaks, the slow left-arm wiles of Chibhabha, and the leg spin of Ndiraya.

Spin may well be a crucial factor in this tournament, and the Dutch, too, will be looking to Esther de Lange, Esther Lanser and captain Helmien Rambaldo, and perhaps Leonie Bennett - who has developed into a left-arm spinner - to contain the opposing batters and create pressure.

The seam attack will be chosen from Kerryanne Tomlinson, who is set to make her ODI debut on Monday, Laura Brouwers, Jolet Hartenhof, and Mariska Kornet, who makes a welcome return to the squad after missing the whole of the 2011 season through injury.

The Dutch batting line-up, though lacking the variety provided by Zimbabwe's lefthanders, is no less strong, with Rambaldo, Denise Hannema, Miranda Veringmeier, Marijn Nijman, Tomlinson and Lanser all likely to play a significant part.

With the West Indies and Sri Lanka among the contenders for the four World Cup places as well as Pakistan and South Africa, both Zimbabwe and the Netherlands know that they will have to put up a supreme effort if they are to mount a serious challenge.

But two further ODI spots are also on offer, and Monday's winner will give themselves a real chance of claiming one of those.