Dharamsala (Himachal Pradesh), Oct 17: Put into bat by South Africa in the rain delayed 15th mach of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 on Tuesday, the Netherlands were 218/8 in 40.5 overs.
In the 6th over, Kagiso Rabada struck with the first ball he delivered in the match. He got Dutch opener Vikramjit Singh out for 2, as Henrich Klassen took an excellent catch running backwards.
In the first ball of the very next over, tall fast bowler Marco Jansen removed the other Dutch opener Max O'Dowd, who edged a catch to keeper Quinton de Kock. O'Dowd scored 18 in 25 balls and hit four 4s.
Rabada was too difficult to be tackled by the Dutch batters in a perfect pacer friendly conditions. He claimed Bas de Leede for 2, who rather had a troubled time in the middle.
The pressure of dot balls forced Colin Ackerman to manufacture a non-existent shot against Gerald Coetzee. Eventually, Ackerman got bowled with a tick inside edge. As he departed for a struggling 12 in 25 balls, Netherlands were reduced to 50/4 in 15.1 overs.
Sybrand Engelbrecht (19) and Teja Nidamanuru (20) too got starts, but could not carry on for long.
The Netherlands skipper Scott Edwards and Logan van Beek were then were busy trying to counter and survive against the high quality African bowling, which was supported by some excellent fielding.
After a 28-run partnership with his skipper, Logan van Beek (10 in 27 balls) returned to pavilion, being stumped by alert Quinton de Kock off spinner Keshav Maharaj.
Roelf van der Merwe put some resistance and fought with Edwards. But finally fell to pacer Lungi Ngidi for 29, edging a catch to keeper de Kock.
Skipper Edwards continued to fight and hit a half century in trying situations.
The Day and Night encounter was reduced to 43 overs from 50 overs as rain and wet outfield delayed the start.
Considering the overcast conditions, South Africa decided to strengthen their pace attack and roped in one more fast bowler to their XI.
Similarly, the Netherlands preferred to include Logan van Beek, a wicket taking option.
The Africans have won both their previous matches in the tournament, while the Dutch are yet to open their account.
South Africa XI:
Quinton de Kock (wicket-keeper), Temba Bavuma (Captain), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Gerald Coetzee and Lungi Ngidi.
Netherlands XI:
Vikramjit Singh, Max O'Dowd, Colin Ackermann, Bas de Leede, Teja Nidamanuru, Scott Edwards (Captain and wicket-keeper), Sybrand Engelbrecht, Roelof van der Merwe, Logan van Beek, Aryan Dutt and Paul van Meekeren.
