Dharamsala (Himachal Pradesh), Oct 17: South Africa need 246 runs to register their third consecutive win in the ongoing ICC ODI World Cup 2023.
On Tuesday, the Netherlands put into bat could compile 245/8 against the Africans in the rain curtailed 15th mach of the tournament at HPCA Stadium, here.
In reply, South Africa were 32/0 in 7 overs.
Earlier, the highlight of the Dutch innings was the superb unbeaten 78 in 69 balls, with 10 boundaries and a huge six by their skipper Scott Edwards. While wickets continued to fall, Edwards managed to put a valiant fight.
For the Africans, all the five bowlers tested success. But seasoned Kagiso Rabada was exceptional with a 2/27 figure in 8 overs and topped the bowling chart.
Rain and wet field conditions delayed the start and the match was shortened by 7 overs, reducing it to a 43-over aside battle.
Earlier, winning the toss, South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma had no hesitation in asking the opposition to bat first in overcast conditions.
In the 7th over, Kagiso Rabada struck. He tested success with the first ball he bowled. 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 perfect pacer friendly conditions. Rabada tested more success, as 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 thick 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 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. He was stumped by alert Quinton de Kock off spinner Keshav Maharaj.
Roelf van der Merwe showed 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 fine half century in adverse situations. His unbeaten 78 proved his maturity and class against a tough opposition.
Towards the end of Dutch innings, the unbeaten 9-ball 23 cameo by Aryan Dutt provided some entertainment to the audience. Not to mention that it too helped his side put some more runs on the board against a batting-heavy African side.
Earlier, 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.
