CWC 2023, Match 15, Netherlands VS South Africa Played at HPCA Stadium, Himachal Pradesh, India on 17 October 2023
Netherlands 245/8 in 43 Overs (Scot Edwards 78, Roelof van der Merwe 29, Aryan Dutt 23*, Extras 32, Marco Jansen 2/27, Kagiso Rabada 2/56, Luigi Ngidi 2/57)
South Africa 207 All Out in 42.5 Overs (David Miller 43, Keshav Maharaj 40, Henrich Klaasen 28, Logan Van Beek 3/60, Roelof van der Merwee 2/34. Bas de Leede 2/36, Paul van Meekeren 2/40)
Netherlands won by 38 Runs
Player of the Match: Scot Edwards (78 Runs)
World Cup Cricket 2023 witnessed yet another major upset as ICC Associate member Netherlands made high flying South Africa Choke to a 38 runs defeat. Following the shock defeat of England against Afghanistan the other day the CWC 2023 became and open contest.
Nothing must take away from the flying Dutchmen oozing with confidence right from the start. Taking encouragement from their T20 world cup win against protean Netherlands looked like hungry wolves. In the rain restricted 43 over match Dutch produced a challenging score of 245/8. Their bowlers bowling superbly at one stage reduced South Africans to 6/109. However, late middle fighting their back to the wall could take the score to 207 all out with 1 ball to spare. Netherlands recorded a historic world cup win against a major opposition. South Africa looking impregnable in their first two matches against Sri Lanka and Australia was caught in the maze of Netherlands.
There were talks in the air that there may be an upset on the day. The sky of Dharamshala was covered with dark cloud threatening to wash away the match. Rain came just before the start of the match and delayed the toss and again after that the match started late. The match was reduced to 43 overs. Netherland never looked like “Toddlers among the big fish “in the tournament. They competed well against Pakistan and New Zealand. Yet they played with a purpose and put up a very impressive score of 245/8 in allotted 43 overs. Captain Scot Edwards batted brilliantly scoring 78 in 69 deliveries. There were some contributions by almost every Dutch batsman. Roelof van der Merwee scored 29 and Aryan Dutt remained not out scoring 23. Protean attack looked a bit rusty and way ward. They gave away as may as 32 extras. Marco Jansen (2/27), Kagiso Rabada (2/56) and Luigi Ngidi (2/57) did their best to subdue the Dutch effervescence.
The Dutch appeared with never say die attitude. They bowled and fielded with a purpose and made life very difficult for the protean. Wickets kept tumbling. The batsmen in form Quinton de Kock (20), Temba Bavuma (16), Rassie van der Dussen (4) Aiden Markram (1) could not spread their wings. At one stage South Africans were reduced to 6/109. David Miller (43) and Keshav Maharaj (40) tried to resurrect. But that was too little too late. Disciplined Netherlands sensing the blood restricted mighty South Africans to 207 all out. The men from the land of Tulip proved that their qualification for the World Cup ahead of West Indies, Zimbabwe and Ireland was not a flash in the pan. Logan van Beek (3/60), Roelof van der Merwee (2/34), Bas de Leede (2/36) and Pau van Meekeren (2/40) teamed exceedingly well to squeeze the protean. Netherland well and truly outplayed the Protea.
South Africa on several occasion in the past choked during business session of the world cup. This time this happened a bit early. The same team in the last T20 world Cup held in Australia shocked South Africa surprisingly opening the door for Pakistan playing in the final. Who knows whether they have perhaps done it yet again. The tournament got wide open yet again. Only host India and New Zealand remain unbeaten in this highly competitive world cup. No team is push over this year in CWC 2023. Netherland must be given due credit for their wonderful win.
BDST: 0930 HRS, OCT 18, 2023
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