The Netherlands cricket team has once again managed to outshine South Africa on the cricketing stage. Not too long ago, the Dutch side scripted the Proteas’ exit at the T20 World Cup in 2022, and history repeated itself on Tuesday, October 17.
While South Africa’s journey in the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 is far from over, Temba Bavuma’s men suffered a major upset, succumbing to a 38-run defeat at the hands of Scott Edwards and his compatriots.
The stage was set in Dharamsala, but the proceedings were marred by rain both before and after the toss. As a result, when Bavuma chose to field after winning the toss, both teams were left waiting. Finally, when play did get underway, the game had been truncated to 43 overs per side.
Initially, it seemed as if the Netherlands was in for a rough ride, as they found themselves struggling at 82/5.
However, in cricket, fortunes can change in an instant. Scott Edwards, with unwavering determination, took matters into his own hands. He went on to deliver a remarkable, unbeaten knock of 78 runs, catapulting his side to a competitive total of 245/8.
The Proteas took to the field, eager to chase down the 246-run target. However, they were dealt a substantial early blow when Quinton de Kock’s hopes of securing a third consecutive century were dashed, courtesy of Ackermann’s dismissal. Shortly after, Van de Merwe sent Temba Bavuma back to the pavilion with just 16 runs to his name.
Rassie van der Dussen and Aiden Markram, who had previously smashed centuries against Sri Lanka, struggled to make an impact against the Dutch. At one point, South Africa found themselves in dire straits at 44/4.
David Miller, in conjunction with Heinrich Klaasen, put up a commendable fight, and Jean-Paul Duminy Coetzee played a gritty 22-run knock. However, the Dutch bowlers proved to be relentless in their pursuit of victory.
Notably, Logan van Beek had earlier dropped a crucial catch of Miller, which appeared to be a turning point in the game. However, the Dutchman redeemed himself by dismissing Miller, rekindling the Netherlands fans’ hopes of a historic upset.
Keshav Maharaj and Lungi Ngidi formed a ninth-wicket partnership, displaying admirable resilience. Nevertheless, their efforts could only delay the inevitable. Van Beek, once again, emerged as the hero, dismissing Maharaj and sealing the historic win for the Netherlands.
In a tournament that has witnessed its fair share of upsets, Sunday’s monumental victory by Afghanistan over England set the stage. The Dutch, following in Afghanistan’s footsteps, have now written their names in the annals of cricketing history with a resounding win over South Africa.
