The Netherlands recorded their third win in the ODI Cricket World Cup history after claiming a stunning 38-run victory in the rain-curtailed match against in-form South Africa at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. While it was their first ODI World Cup win since 2007, it was also their first ODI World Cup victory against an ICC Full Member or a Test-playing member.
After South Africa chose to field first in that 15th game at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 at Dharamsala, the rain shortened the game to 43-over affairs in each innings.
South Africa vs Netherlands: Netherlands scored 245/8 in 43 overs
The Dutch batting line-up was struggling early in that innings. Due to losing wickets at regular intervals, the Netherlands were once struggling at 140/7. Captain Scott Edwards and Roelof van der Merwe had a solid 64-run partnership in 36 balls for the eighth wicket. It proved to be a game-changing moment.
After Van der Merwe was dismissed for 29 runs in 19 balls with the help of three fours and one six, Aryan Dutt had a crucial cameo of 23 not out in just nine balls with the help of three sixes. While Edwards and Dutt had another vital 41-run partnership for the unbroken ninth wicket, Edwards remained not out for important 78 runs in 69 balls with the help of 10 fours and only six.
At the end of the first innings, Netherlands scored 245/8 in 43 overs. The strong South African batting line-up had to chase 246 runs in 43 overs.
Among the South African bowlers, Marco Jansen (2/27), Kagiso Rabada (2/56), and Lungi Ngidi (2/57) all bagged two wickets each.
South Africa vs Netherlands: South Africa were restricted to 207 runs in 42.5 overs
In reply, Netherlands bowlers were very disciplined as the captain Scott Edwards and the bowlers properly executed their strategies. The Proteas batters were never in comfortable positions in the entire innings as they were all out for 207 runs in 42.5 overs.
Among the Proteas batters, only David Miller (43) and Keshav Maharaj (40) managed to put some fight-back, but the team was losing regular wickets.
In that historic 38-run win, Netherlands bowler Logan van Beek took three wickets (3/60), while Roelof van der Merwe (2/34), Bas de Leede (2/36), and Paul van Meekeren (2/40) all collected crucial two wickets each. Colin Ackermann also picked a wicket (1/16).
Skipper Scott Edwards won the Player of the Match award for his outstanding batting performances and three crucial catches apart from his brilliant captaincy.
Here are some crucial facts at the end of this South Africa vs Netherlands match
It was the Netherlands’ third win in their ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup history. Their first two wins were against Namibia (ICC Cricket World Cup 2003) and Scotland (ICC Cricket World Cup 2007).
It was the Netherlands’ first ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup victory since their 8-wicket win against Scotland in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007. In between this period, the Dutch side lost eight consecutive ODI World Cup matches (2011 and 2023 editions).
It was the Netherlands’ first ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup victory against an ICC Full Member or a Test-playing member.
South Africa became the fourth ICC Full Member to face an ODI defeat against the Netherlands. The other three Test members in this list are Bangladesh (once in 2010), Zimbabwe (twice in 2019 and once in 2023) and Ireland (twice in 2021).
It was South Africa’s first-ever ODI defeat against an ICC Associate Member or a non-Test member.
