Skipper Scott Edwards’ blistering unbeaten 69-ball 78 and overall bowling brilliance powered the Netherlands to a big upset victory against South Africa in the 15th match of the ICC World Cup 2023 at the HPCA Cricket Stadium in Dharamsala on Tuesday.
– SOUTH AFRICA'S INNINGS –
Chasing a target of 246, South Africa were bundled out for 207 with 43 balls to spare. With the exception of David Miller (43), Keshav Maharaj (40), Heinrich Klaseen (28) none of the batters managed to show resistance.
For Netherlands, Logan van Beek (0-60) scooped up three wickets.
Roelof van der Merwe (2-34), Bas de Leede (2-36) and Paul van Meekeren (2-40) bagged two wickets apiece.
Colin Ackermann (1-6) picked up a wicket.
Aryan Dutt (0-19) remained wicketless with the bowl.
Keshav Maharaj (1-38) and Gerald Coetzee (1-57) picked up a wicket apiece.
Netherlands part-time off-spinner Colin Ackermann bagged a golden wicket to inform Quinton De Kock (20 off 22) to put South Africa into test during their chase of a 245-8 run target.
The loss of his partner, Quinton De Kock, mounted pressure on captain Temba Bavuma (16 off 31), who could not handle it and was flummoxed by Roelof van der Merwe.
Paul van Meekeren also bagged immense confidence to trap any of the South African batters as he befuddled the dangerous, Aiden Markram for merely 1.
Roelof van der Merwe continued to make an impact and perplexed Rassie van der Dussen (4 off 7).
Heinrich Klaasen, who was looking good for his 28-ball 28 lacing with four boundaries, was perplexed by Logan van Beek.
– NETHERLANDS' INNINGS –
After being put into bat, the Netherlands were off to a poor start against South Africa. Proteas were right on the money and did not allow any lose deliveries to both the openers, Max O’Dowd and Vikramjit Singh.
But Netherlands captain Scott Edwards scored a blistering unbeaten 69-ball 78 to power his team to 245-8 in a 43-over match against South Africa.
But O’Dowd continued his efforts to avert pressure and clobbered four boundaries. But Kagiso Rabada (1-2) outplayed Vikramjit Singh for just 16-ball 2.
Subsequently, the pressure was mounted on O’Dowd after his partner Vikramjit Singh departed. He perished on a 25-ball 18 off Marco Jansen.
The Netherlands could not manage to show resistance after an early hiccup and went on to lose the heavyweights, Bas de Leede (2) and Colin Ackermann (12), in quick succession.
Rabada trapped Bas de Leede and Gerald Coetzee cleaned up Colin Ackermann.
Sybrand Engelbrecht (19 off 37 deliveries), who was playing against his natives, tried his best to show significant resistance with the bat. But the aggression and brilliance of Lungi Ngidi had cut Engelbrecht’s innings short.
Teja Nidamanuru was looking good in rhythm and went on to smash three boundaries before he was trapped by Jansen on 25-ball 20.
Logan van Beek (10 off 27), who remained quiet on the wicket, was put to the test by Keshav Meharaj, who removed him in no time. The rest of the work was done by Quinton De Kock behind the stumps.
When the Netherlands were 140 for 7, Roelof van der Merwe joined skipper Scott Edwards. Both of them were trying to rebound the Dutch innings to some extent.
Scott Edwards showed great dedication with the bat and went on to notch up a fifty for his side with almost a run-aball, powering the Netherlands to above 200.
Skipper Edwards found an able ally in Roelof van der Merwe, who was treating his native bowlers with utter contempt.
Both Scott Edwards and Roelof van der Merwe racked up a blistering 64-run partnership off 37 balls before it was cut short by Ngidi when he removed the dangerous, Roelof van der Merwe. Roelof van der Merwe, in his 19-ball 29, clobbered three boundaries and one towering six.
For South Africa, Marco Jansen (2-27), Kagiso Rabada (2-56) and Lungi Ngidi (2-57) bagged two apiece.
For putting on an unbeaten display with the bat and grabbing three catches behind the stumps, Scott Edwards was named the player of the match.
NETHERLANDS’ PLAYING XI
Vikramjit Singh, Max O’Dowd, Colin Ackermann, Bas De Leede, Teja Nidamanuru, Scott Edwards (c) (wk), Sybrand Engelbrecht, Roelof van der Merwe, Logan van Beek, Aryan Dutt, Paul van Meekren
SOUTH AFRICA’S PLAYING XI
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 Coetzee
