Innings Vikram and Nidamanuru bright spots in Dutch defeat
Published at 31 March, 2023The Dutch men's team has lost the Super League game against South Africa by a wide margin. The hosts didn't make half work of the visitors' 189 runs: 190/2 in thirty overs.
The Netherlands was without Ackermann, Van der Merwe, Van Beek, Pringle and De Leede due to various reasons. South Africa, on the other hand, was at ‘war strength’ with players such as Nortje, De Kock, Markram, Jansen, Rabada, Van der Dussen and Heinrich Klaasen. After all, they could still qualify directly for the 50-over World Cup as number 8 of the Super League.
Willowmoore Park in Benoni offered a pitch with a lot of extra bounce in the morning hours. South Africa therefore opted for fielding, also given the weather (plenty of swing) and the weather forecast.
Jansen in particular was difficult to play with tempo changes, inswing, outswing and movement off the seam.
Vikram Singh was beaten outside the offstump on a number of occasions, but got his revenge with two monstrously big sixes off Rabada in the seventh over. The furthest was 98 meters, went over the main stand and ended in the parking lot. Magala was also immediately attacked with two beautiful cover drives. The 50 partnership was reached in the ninth over with Vikram on 33 not out – an excellent start.
That changed at 58 when O'Dowd (18) had to leave first (caught behind). Moments later Vikram went for an excellent 45 (53) (71/2). Immediately after the drinks break it was 80/3 when Barresi hit a short ball from Nortje into the hands of the deep fine leg Rabada. South Africa did not have to use a spinner yet as captain Edwards also became a Nortje victim (94/4).
On the accurate attack, Nidamanuru needed some time to get into his rhythm. With the run rate reduced to 4.08, Tabraiz Shamsi finally came into the attack. He was immediately successful when Musa Ahmad (17) got a tickle. Jansen came back into the attack. Nidamanuru greeted him with two sixes. In general, however, the South African attack was too strong for the Dutch batsmen. After thirty overs it was 123/5.
After the departure of Shariz (stumped off a leg side wide), Dutt and Nidamanuru (a gritty 48) (178/8), the Dutch had to hope that the 50 overs would be achieved. However, that did not happen; the last Dutch wicket fell at 189. Shamsi took 3-25, Magala 3-37.
South Africa innings
It was certainly not so that Bavuma and De Kock came out of the dressing room all guns blazing. In addition, the Orange team started with offspinner Aryan Dutt alongside seamer Fred Klaassen. This move paid off, as lefthander De Kock got a top edge in the sixth over: 18/1.
The Netherlands initially kept the run rate nice and low (around four per over), but did see a nasty collision happen on the square leg boundary between Musa Ahmad and Aryan Dutt. The latter had to temporarily leave the field with a knee injury and was replaced by Kyle Klein. (Viv Kingma was already on the field as a substitute fielder for Teja Nidamanuru.)
Van Meekeren bowled strongly, starting with two maidens, but South Africa had nothing to do but punish bad balls. Klaassen provided a bright spot when Van der Dussen (31) got a top edge (88/2). After that, there wasn't much left for the Dutch; South Africa reached the target without further wicket loss. Captain Bavuma made 90 not out, Markram 51. Dutt took 1-30, Klaassen 1-51.
Check the Super League ranking here: https://www.icc-cricket.com/cricket-world-cup-super-league/standings
Scott Edwards on Series against South Africa
On March 31 and April 2, the Dutch men will play the two final matches in the Super League. The Top-8 of this competition qualifies for the 50-over-World Cup that will be held in India at the end of this year. The remaining five countries will face each other in a World Cup Qualifier in June and July (plus Nepal, Oman, Scotland and two B-group countries, including Namibia, UAE and USA) to fight for the final two World Cup tickets.
On 26 November 2021, the Dutch team played the first of three ODIs against South Africa. The match was abandoned due to rain (South Africa 277/8, Netherlands 11/0). Immediately afterwards, the omikron variant of the covid virus was discovered in the region and therefore the rest of the Series was postponed. The remaining two One Dayers will now be played on March 31 and April 2. (The first one was won by South Africa, ed.)
Captain Scott Edwards looks back on the lost but still promising Series against Zimbabwe and ahead to the encounters with South Africa: “The Zimbabwe Series was a great contest. Although we missed our opportunity to win the series in the second game, there were plenty of great individual performances and learnings that hold the team in good stead come the World Cuip qualifiers in June. Moving into the second leg of the trip, we are looking to play with SOUL (selflessness, ownership, unity, larger purpose) and test ourselves against a strong South African side.”
