Adelaide: The Netherlands sent South Africa crashing out of the Twenty20 World Cup on Sunday with a stunning 13-run victory in Adelaide which also propelled India into the semi-finals. The latest in a series of shocks at this tournament left Bangladesh and Pakistan fighting it out for the final spot in the last four.
Table-toppers India are on six points and play Zimbabwe in Melbourne in the final match of Sunday’s triple header, the result of which will decide the final Super 12 standings and who faces whom in the semis. The South African batters choked and failed to chase a moderate score of 159 runs as the Dutch bowlers restricted them to 145/8 in their 20 overs. Brandon Glover starred with the ball for the Netherlands as the pacer claimed three wickets in his two overs.
Chasing for victory after Colin Ackermann’s unbeaten 41, South Africa faltered to end on 145-8, with Dutch fast bowler Brandon Glover returning impressive figures of 3-9 in two overs. South Africa started on a jittery note with openers Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma out inside six overs with the score on 39. Colin Ackermann was declared the ‘Player of the Match’ for his crucial knock.
The left-handed de Kock hit a four and six but soon fell caught behind to Fred Klaassen, for 13, and Bavuma was bowled by Paul van Meekeren for 20. But it was Glover’s wicket of Rilee Rossouw that raised the Dutch hopes with the batsman, who hit the first century in this tournament, departing after a 19-ball 25. The Proteas never looked convincing as Klaassen took down Aiden Markram for 17 and a Dutch shock started becoming a reality when Glover struck twice in one over. He sent back the dangerous David Miller and then got Wayne Parnell caught behind as the wheels came off the South Africa chase — and with it their World Cup hopes.
Put in to bat first, the Dutch, who had only beaten Zimbabwe in the Super 12, started strongly with Stephan Myburgh’s 37 but lost their way. But then stepped in Ackermann. He hit three fours and two sixes in his 26-ball knock and along with skipper Scott Edwards helped the team get 31 runs from the final two overs.
Brief Score: Netherlands 158/4 (Colin Ackermann 41, Tom Cooper 35; Keshav Maharaj 2-27) vs South Africa 145/8 (Rilee Rossouw 25, Heinrich Klaasen 21; Brandon Glover 3-9).
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