WORLD CUP 2023: Netherlands Upsets Buoyant South Africa

Asif Iqbal

Srinagar: Just days into Afghanistan’s pulling a victory against defending champions England, Netherlands too has made its mark by defeating tournament favorites South Africa in a rain curtailed match.

South Africa after winning the toss asked Netherlands to bat first and due to delays and intermittent rain showers during the course of match, the contest was curtailed to 43 overs each in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh.

As expected the Proteas’ bowlers dealt early blows to Dutch, even as Bas de Leede upfront the batting order could score only 2 runs. Thanks to some late innings blitz by skipper Edwards with able assistance from Merwe and Aryan Dutt, Netherlands went on to post a formidable total of 245-8 in allotted 43 overs.

For South Africa, Ngidi, Jansen and Rabada picked up two wickets each.

Laced with a powerful batting line up, it seemed a cake-walk for South Africa, but the Dutch had some other plans up the sleeves as it made the otherwise powerful batting line up look pretty ordinary. Once de Cock fell, the other batters looked in an apparent hurry and gave away their wickets, but let no one take any credit from the Dutch bowling attack as they for major part of the innings kept a tidy bowling.

David Miller who was looking too dangerous to take away the game from Dutch was cleaned up by van Beek before Bas de Leede complemented it with two other scalps.

The upset defeat will surely take a toll on the South African campaign in terms of table ranking and confidence as well however on the contrary is a major boost to the Netherlands and to the event alike.

• Developing report, will be updated accordingly.