On Tuesday at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala, the Netherlands caused the second shock of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, defeating high-flying South Africa by 38 runs. The Netherlands bowled out South Africa for 207 to claim their third ODI World Cup victory, 16 years after their previous victory over Scotland in the West Indies.
Meanwhile, this is the Netherlands’ second ICC tournament success over South Africa in the last year, after the Dutch knocked the Proteas out of the T20 World Cup 2022 with a thrilling 13-run win on November 6, 2022, in Adelaide.
After putting up a respectable total, the Netherlands needed early breakthroughs to really put South Africa on the back foot, and Colin Ackermann delivered, dismissing Quinton de Kock for two. When a faster one slid through quicker to pluck off Temba Bavuma’s stumps, Roelof van der Merwe added to South Africa’s concern.
The Proteas were in trouble from the start, and the Netherlands were looking for a one-of-a-kind victory. Paul van Meekeren cleaned up Aiden Markram, while Rassie van der Dussen handed a routine catch to Aryan Dutt off van der Merwe’s delivery, leaving South Africa stuttering at 44 for 4 in the 12th over.
With the Netherlands having put South Africa in a vulnerable position at 109 for six, only David Miller’s tenacious 43 runs stood between them and a stunning victory. On the field and in the dressing room, anxiety surged after De Leede missed a simple catch off Miller in the outfield. However, their fate was sealed in the 31st over when bowler Logan van Beek bowled the dangerous left-hander. Paul van Meekren dismissed both Aiden Markram and Marco Jansen with two deceptive cross-seam deliveries that wrecked their stumps.
Earlier in the rain-soaked World Cup encounter, Scott Edwards led from the front to assist the Netherlands record a stunning comeback, eventually achieving a score of 245 for eight. The intermittent rain not only created a chilly environment at the mountain venue, but it also cut the match short to 43-over-a-side.
Nonetheless, the Netherlands’ performance with the ball in the final five overs was nothing short of outstanding, surrendering 68 runs in the final five overs. The Netherlands were battling at 140 for seven in the 34th over. Scott Edwards, who scored 78 runs off 69 balls, and Roelof van der Merwe, who scored 29 runs off 19 balls, kept the audience engaged with a partnership of 64 runs off 37 balls near the end of the innings, helping the team cross the 200-run mark.
South Africa’s potent pace attack proved difficult for the Dutch top order, who battled against it. Aryan Dutt’s undefeated 23 runs off nine balls added significantly to the team’s total.
Rabada had an early impression by dismissing Vikramjit Singh, who scored only 2 runs off 16 balls while attempting a pull shot against a fast delivery. Six balls later, the tall left-arm pacer Jansen beat Max O’Dowd (18) by eliciting a small edge with an angled toss.
Bas de Leede, a great all-rounder, was also dismissed for two runs after Rabada delivered a delivery that cut back sharply from length, catching him in front. The pacers continued to take wickets during the middle overs before Edwards and former Proteas star Van der Merwe launched a counter-offensive.
Source:IT