South Africa’s sad knack of slipping on banana skins resurfaced but once more because the Netherlands beat the Rainbow Nation by 38 runs for less than its third-ever World Cup match-win.
In the rain-shortened 43-overs-a-side affair on the HPCA stadium right here on Tuesday, the in-form Proteas needed to chase 246, far more than it ought to have after having the Dutchmen at 50 for 4.
But in a practice wreck of a pursuit, Temba Bavuma & Co. wilted to lose their second straight match to the Netherlands at an ICC occasion after the gorgeous reverse within the 2022 T20 World Cup.
AS IT HAPPENED: South Africa vs Netherlands highlights
Quinton de Kock gloved one behind off Colin Ackermann; Bavuma was bowled after failing to learn an arm-ball from Roelof van der Merwe (a former South Africa worldwide); Aiden Markram’s stumps have been rearranged by Paul van Meekeren.
Rassie van der Dussen tried a pressure-releasing reverse sweep off van der Merwe, but it surely travelled straight to backward-point. As South Africa reeled at 44 for 4, Heinrich Klaasen (28, 28b, 4×4) and David Miller (43, 52b, 4×4, 1×6) resisted by placing on 45 runs.
But Klaasen hit a superbly timed pull to Vikramjit Singh’s throat at fine-leg and Miller was castled by Logan van Beek. The South African tail wagged, however the victory was nowhere in sight.
Earlier, on a full of life pitch, the Netherlands top-order struggled towards the tempo quartet of Lungi Ngidi, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada and Gerald Coetzee. But skipper Scott Edwards’ industriousness (78 n.o., 69b, 10×4, 1×6) and a few heavy hitting by No.9 van der Merwe (29, 19b, 3×4, 1×6) and No.10 Aryan Dutt (23 n.o., 9b, 3×6) resurrected the outfit.
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Coming in at 82 for 5, Edwards first swept his means out of Keshav Maharaj’s internet, with the bat virtually resembling a groundsman’s broom. The 27-year-old collected 30 of his 78 runs off Maharaj.
Edwards then went after Rabada, whacking a six over deep square-leg and backing it up with a success to the quilt fence to carry up his half-century.
From the opposite finish, van der Merwe wielded the willow like an unorthodox sword fighter. What adopted, was some comically efficient batting as he slayed a six and dabbed a 4 within the third-man space.
Edwards and van der Merwe placed on 64 runs for the eighth wicket in simply 36 balls because the rating swelled over 200.
The lanky Dutt then clobbered three sixes on the leg-side, a lot to the delight of the boisterous, underdog-loving crowd. The unbroken ninth-wicket stand fetched 41 runs (19b), giving the overall a successful halo.
Source web site: sportstar.thehindu.com
