South Africa edged past the Netherlands by four wickets in their second match of the T20 World Cup 2024, held at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
The Proteas, recovering from a precarious position, were led to victory by David Miller's unbeaten 59-run knock.
The game, which saw the Proteas opting to bowl first, initially tilted heavily in favor of the South Africans. The Dutch side was restricted to 103-9 in their 20 overs, with the Proteas' bowlers dominating from the onset. Michael Levitt fell to Marco Jansen on the third ball of the innings, setting the tone for a challenging day for the Netherlands.
Wickets tumbled regularly as the Dutch struggled against the disciplined South African bowling attack. They were reeling at 48-6 in 11.5 overs until Sybrand Engelbrecht and Logan van Beek's crucial 54-run partnership offered some resistance. Despite their efforts, the Netherlands could only manage a modest total, with Ottniel Baartman claiming four wickets and Jansen and Anrich Nortje taking two each.
Chasing a modest target of 104, South Africa faced a stunning collapse at the start of their innings. The top order crumbled under the pressure exerted by the Dutch bowlers, leaving the Proteas tottering at 12-4 within the first three overs. Reeza Hendricks (3 off 10), Quinton de Kock (0), Aiden Markram (0), and Heinrich Klaasen (4 off 7) all fell cheaply, placing South Africa in a dire situation.
However, the game saw a remarkable turnaround as David Miller and Tristan Stubbs combined to stabilize the innings. Their 65-run partnership brought South Africa back into contention. Bas de Leede eventually dismissed Stubbs in the 17th over, and Marco Jansen soon followed, but Miller's composure and aggression ensured the Proteas crossed the finish line. Miller's unbeaten 59 anchored the chase, sealing the victory for South Africa.
The Netherlands, despite their spirited bowling performance, could not prevent South Africa from registering their second win in the tournament. South Africa's decision to bowl first paid dividends, as their bowlers set the stage for a successful chase, despite early jitters.
Playing XIs:
South Africa: Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram (capt), Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Ottneil Baartman
Netherlands: Max O'Dowd, Michael Levitt, Vikramjit Singh, Scott Edwards (capt, wk), Teja Nidamanuru, Bas de Leede, Sybrand Engelbrecht, Logan van Beek, Tim Pringle, Paul van Meekeren, Vivian Kingma.
