eBusiness Weekly
The Netherlands claimed a magnificent scalp at the Cricket World Cup beating South Africa in rampant style in Dharamshala.
Skipper Scott Edwards made an unbeaten 78 as the previously winless Dutch shocked a Proteas side who had looked impressive in their opening two games, winning by 102 and 134 runs against Sri Lanka and Australia respectively.
Netherlands recovered from 82-5 batting first to post 245-8 in a match reduced to 43 overs a side by rain.
In reply, South Africa were in early trouble at 44-4 and then 145-7 when top scorer David Miller (43) became one of Logan van Beek’s wickets in his spell of 3-60 as the Proteas were eventually bowled out for 207 in the final over.
Victory for the Dutch, by 38 runs, is their first ODI World Cup win since beating Scotland in St Kitts & Nevis in 2007.
It was a chastening day for Temba Bavuma’s side as South Africa succumbed to a Dutch double with the Netherlands claiming a second monumental upset victory over the Proteas at a World Cup in less than 12 months.
Last November, the Netherlands’ shock win in Adelaide dumped South Africa out of the T20 World Cup and on Tuesday they crashed to defeat in the 50-over equivalent in Dharamshala.
South Africa squandered plenty of promising positions as their hopes of reaching the knockout stages suffered a sizeable setback, putting additional emphasis on Saturday’s showdown against England in Mumbai.
For the Netherlands, this must rank as the finest win in their history as, while they beat the West Indies to qualify for the tournament, this South Africa side are quietly fancied to be contenders in India.
The Dutch were on the ropes at 50-4 then 112-6, but captain Edwards rescued them from number seven.
His unbeaten 78 from 69 balls was supplemented by crucial cameos from Roelof van der Merwe (29 from 19) and Aryan Dutt (23 not out off nine) as the Netherlands posted 245-8.
Bavuma and Quinton de Kock, who made centuries in the wins over Sri Lanka and Australia, started well but the pair, plus Aiden Markram and Rassie van der Dussen, departed within the space of 21 deliveries.
A position of 36-0 became 44-4 before Heinrich Klaasen and Miller put on a run-a-ball 45 to steady the ship. However, Klaasen’s dismissal left South Africa’s hopes all on Miller.
Being dropped on 23 in the deep seemed a significant moment, but an off pace jaffa from the dangerous Van Beek clipped the top of Miller’s off-stump as he departed for 43 to all but end South Africa’s hopes.
Bas de Leede, who shelled a steepler to reprieve Miller, atoned by dismissing Gerald Coetzee and Kagiso Rabada, and Van Beek snared Keshav Maharaj in the last over as South Africa were all out for 207.
It was a superb collective bowling effort as Van Beek took 3-60 while Van der Merwe and Paul van Meekeren each bagged two wickets as the Dutch celebrated a first ODI World Cup win in 16 years.
Netherlands captain Edwards was proud of his team after they stunned South Africa in Tuesday’s World Cup match and said they went into the tournament with the dream of reaching the last four.
The only non-Test playing nation in the tournament pulled off a major upset against the previously unbeaten South Africa, earning a famous victory a year after beating the Proteas in the T20 World Cup.
Edwards led by example with a captain’s knock of 78 not out that helped the Dutch side overcome a top order collapse and post a total that remained beyond South Africa’s reach.
“Proud of the group. Putting in that performance and being able to play my part is nice,” Edwards, named player of the match, said.
“When we came into the tournament we wanted to have a chance at playing semi-finals and if you want to do that you’ve got to beat teams.
“Obviously South Africa are probably one of the favourites the way they are playing so it is a big win for us.”
Bavuma: ‘It will hurt and it should hurt’
His South Africa counterpart Temba Bavuma said they let the Dutch side off the hook.
“At 112-6 we didn’t want to let them get over 200 and we definitely dropped the ball there,” Bavuma said.
“We’ll have to let the emotion seep in. There is no point trying to forget what happened.
“It will hurt and it should hurt. Tomorrow we’ll get back on the journey, our campaign is by no means over.” — skysports.com
