Just days after Afghanistan stunned the defending champions, England, in Delhi, the Netherlands added another remarkable chapter to the fairytale stories of this World Cup. They achieved a stunning 38-run victory over the in-form South African side in Dharamsala on Tuesday, October 17.
In pursuit of a competitive target of 246 runs from their allotted 43 overs, South Africa began steadily but then lost wickets in quick succession, plummeting from 36/0 to 44/4 in no time. Although David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen put up some resistance, they eventually succumbed to the relentless Dutch bowlers. Keshav Maharaj’s late cameo prevented an even larger margin of defeat.
From the very first over of the chase, bowled as a maiden by Aryan Dutt, it was evident that the Netherlands were determined to make a contest of the game. However, Quinton de Kock seemed to be in rhythm, finding boundaries to get the innings going. Temba Bavuma also contributed with some well-timed shots to the fence and even a six, giving the Proteas a decent start. Nevertheless, Dutt made the breakthrough when de Kock got a glove on a sweep, and Scott Edwards completed the catch. This was the spark the Netherlands needed, and Edwards quickly introduced more spin through the experienced Roelof van der Merwe.
The seasoned left-arm spinner struck twice, increasing the pressure. Bavuma was dismissed by an arm-ball that skidded through, while Rassie van der Dussen lost his composure and played a reverse sweep straight to backward point. In the midst of these wickets, Paul van Meekeren dealt a significant blow to South Africa by bowling Aiden Markram. The pitch conditions didn’t change significantly from the Netherlands’ innings, and there was still value for good strokeplay. However, there was some early assistance for the fast bowlers.
Much depended on Miller and Klaasen for South Africa to chase down the target, and they appeared comfortable in the middle. But it was one of those nights in Dharamsala where luck seemed to favor the Netherlands. A seemingly innocuous short ball down the leg side, one that Klaasen might have dispatched to the boundary on another day, led to his dismissal as he holed out to fine leg. This was a pivotal moment in the game as South Africa had just started gaining momentum in the chase.
Marco Jansen struggled in the middle, and after his dismissal, the pressure got to Miller, who perished to an ill-advised slog across the line. Gerald Coetzee had been providing decent support until then, but the situation perhaps got the better of the left-hander. With Miller’s dismissal, South Africa’s hopes faded, and the margin of victory became a matter of concern for the Netherlands. They did concede some runs towards the end, with Maharaj having some fun, but the result was a comfortable win for the Netherlands.
It was truly a roller-coaster victory for the Netherlands, who were on the verge of defeat earlier in the day. Batting first, they found themselves in a precarious position at 50/4 and 82/5 before skipper Edwards took charge. Edwards, known for his resilience, anchored the innings with calculated play. He particularly targeted Maharaj, using the sweep shot effectively. Despite regular wickets, South Africa had the upper hand and appeared to have control of the game with the Netherlands at 140/7. However, this is where the game took a dramatic turn.
Van der Merwe joined his skipper, producing a rapid 64-run partnership in just 36 balls. Van der Merwe’s audacious and adventurous batting surprised the South African bowlers. His aggression meant that Edwards didn’t need to worry too much about the scoring rate, although the Dutch skipper himself accelerated towards the end. Dutt also played a quick cameo, contributing to a remarkable 104 runs off the last nine overs. It was a stunning reversal of fortunes in the game, and this momentum carried the Netherlands through to the second innings. The target was still attainable, but South Africa’s batsmen had an off day after their recent excellent form in the tournament.
In summary, the Netherlands achieved a remarkable victory, upsetting South Africa’s World Cup campaign and adding another memorable chapter to this tournament’s captivating stories.
