ISLAMABAD: Proteas are exactly called Chokers because they entered the tournament in a super form and suddenly stumbled against the number 10 team in the ICC ODI ranking. It is the story at Dharmsala, India, where the Netherlands outclassed South Africa while defeating them in the ICC World Cup match by 38 runs on Tuesday.
It was an all-round performance from the Netherlands, first in the batting by the middle order and tail and then in the bowling. Despite losing five wickets for just 82 runs in 21 overs, Netherlands managed to drive their team to a compatible total of 245 runs. Later, they did the magic in bowling while sending the top five batters of South Africa to the pavilion before 90 in 19 overs.
While Chasing 246 to win in 43 overs, South Africa took a steady start. In the first 7 overs, they only managed to score at the rate of 4 runs per over. In the 8th over, South Africa lost their first wicket on 36 when the inform Quinton de Cock was removed by Ackermann on 20. In the 10th over, the Proteas lost the 2nd wicket when the other open and skipper was bowled by Van der Merve on 16. Losing two quick wickets in the first ten overs took the batting side under pressure. In the next over, another inform batsman, Aiden Markram, was dismissed by Meekeren on a superb inswing delivery. Markram scored just one run.
In the subsequent over, Merve grabbed his second wicket and got out Van der Dussen on four runs. At the stage, South Africa were 44 for 4 in the 12th over. After losing four quick wickets, Klassen and David Miller showed some resistance while moving the scoreboard ahead. But in the 19th over, when the score reached 89, the Dutch bowler Van Beek managed to break the partnership and removed Klaasen on 28.
Marco Jansen replaced Klaasen, who added 9 runs to the total before getting out. After Jansen, the number 8 batter Gerald Coetzee joined Miller to push the scoreboard. Coetzee took a quick start to put pressure on the Dutch. However, the Netherlands bowlers were there to show consistency as Van Beek bowled out David Miller on 43. At the stage, South Africa were 145 in the 31st over, still some 100 runs away in just 12 overs. Indeed, that was the last hopeful partnership for South Africa being broken by Van Beek. After Miller, Coetzee was also caught behind the wickets by Edwards in the 34th over. He scored 22 runs off 23 balls, including two boundaries and a six. In the same over, it was Maharaj and Rabada standing on the crease with about 10 runs per over to chase with only two wickets in hand.
Later, the tail showed some resistance, including a fine inning by Maharaj, but the damage has been done. South Africa was all out on 207 in the 43rd (last) over to suffer an upset defeat from the Netherlands. It was the second upset of the mega event after Afghanistan outclassed the defending champion England last Sunday.
From the Netherlands, Van Beek was the leading wicket-taker while grabbing three wickets. Meekeren, Bas de Leede, and Merwe took two wickets each, while Ackermann got one wicket each.
Netherlands Batting
Earlier, after winning the toss, the South African captain decided to field first. The Dutch batters took a cautious start to move forward with three runs per over. However, in the 7th over, Rabada dismissed Vikramjit Singh on just two runs, who faced 16 balls. In the next over, Jansen also managed to remove the other opener, Maz O’ Dowd, on 18 with a total score of 24. The Dutch lost their 3rd wicket on 40 in the 11th over when the inform Bas de Lead was bowled and dismissed by Rabada on 2.
The next batter to be dismissed was Colin Ackermann, who added 12 runs to the total. Till the 21st over, half of the Dutch team went to the pavilion as the side lost their 5th wicket on 82 when Sybrand Engelbrecht was caught by Jansen on the bowling of Ngidi.
In the middle of the inning, the skipper Scott Edwards (c)† and Teja Nidamanuru showed some resistance; however, reaching 112 in the 27th over, Teju was dismissed by Jansen on 20. Meanwhile, the skipper Edwards managed to push the innings towards a moderate total. When the score reached 140 in the 34th over, number 8th batter Logan van Beek was removed by Maharaj. He scored 10 runs while facing 27 balls. Van Beek was replaced by Roelof van der Merwe, who along with the skipper Scott Edwards, added some quick, crucial runs to the total. Eerier, when the score was 82 for five, it was predicted that the Dutch would hardly manage to reach 150. However, Scot’s crucial partnerships in the middle and tail took them to a secure position. The Dutch batters managed to score 245 runs in 43 overs for the loss of 8 wickets. Scot scored a splendid 78 runs on 69 balls, including 1 six and ten boundaries. Number 11 batter Aryan Dut was even marvelous while scoring 23 crucial runs on 9 balls.
From South Africa, Rabada, Ngidi, and Jansen took two wickets each, while Maharaj and Coetzee grabbed one wicket each.
Interestingly, from both sides, the top and middle order collapsed, while the lower order and tail tried their best to rescue their teams, among which the Dutch succeeded.
Netherlands Squad
Vikramjit Singh, Max O’Dowd, Colin Ackermann, Bas de Leede, Sybrand Engelbrecht, Teja Nidamanuru, Scott Edwards (c)†, Logan van Beek, Roelof van der Merwe, Aryan Dutt and Paul van Meekeren
South Africa Team
Quinton de Kock †, Temba Bavuma (c), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi and Gerald CoetzeeEnd
