South Africa falls flat in the face of Dutch resilience

Netherlands record the second major upset of World Cup 2023 

October 17, 2023: An encounter that was a walk in the park for the Proteas turned out to be a tumbling fall on the face flat. A non–test playing nation which clawed back to qualify for this mega event, the Netherlands stitched a spirited fight back to hand South Africa another “feather” in the cap, adding to their existing tag of chokers. 

Was this a game for the Netherlands to win? No, this was a game lost by South Africa. The South African think tank would have been in a hill station admiring the beauty when they were batting. A couple of unplayable deliveries apart, South Africa looked like giving away wickets. Eventually we are catered to an upset on the second consecutive day, after Afghanistan stunned defending champions England.

Half of the contingent played a major-part for their franchises in IPL, and yet today, they played schoolboy cricket. Both innings travelled through the same phases, losing four wickets under 100 and losing another two under 120, but what separated them was a player who showed resilience and players around stitching those important 20s.

South Africa, apart from David Miller and Heinrich Klassen, lacked intent to fight. At the fall of Miller, the asking rate was around 7. What they needed was a stable head to steer the chase, and what came out was uninspiring captaincy, a desperate attempt to boss the chase and finally, technical ineptness. In the end, the 38 runs separated the teams looked much smaller in front of the approach and lack of cricketing common sense in the South African Camp.

Earlier in the day, the Netherlands looked like an associate nation finding its feet losing wickets at regular intervals with one bright spot. Stephen Edwards, the skipper, stuck around with others, who failed to convert starts but converted those little partnerships to make a formidable 245 in 43 overs. Edwards’ 69 ball 78 with 10 fours and a six was worth its weight in gold. The victory margin was 38 runs, and South Africa conceded 32 runs in extras against just 8 by Netherlands. A difference worth pondering.

Right from the start of their chase, South Africa looked in a hurry to finish this off but when their international discard, Roelof Van Der Merwe, came on to bowl all hell fell loose. South African batters looked like they had applied glue to their spikes. Reading a spinner of the pitch and staying back with feet planted in the crease are cardinal sins in this part of the world. The problems only compounded when they tried to take on the bowlers and, in the process, lost wickets.

Every team has a core around which other performances are stitched, the South African team did not look like having one today. Was this a day off, or was it a going to be the case from here on to be seen. All in all, a team of international discards and migrants gave South Africa a befitting lesson in playing a game with heart and head in the right place.

- Sairam, Team Pure Cricket

-------------------------------
Pics: Internet