Dharamshala: The Netherlands after a decent batting display despite losing early wickets, later shocked South Africa with the ball as they beat them by 38 runs in the ongoing ICC ODI World Cup.
First time, the Netherlands has beaten a Test-playing nation in the ODI World Cup.
This was the same Dutch side that knocked Proteas out of the T20 World Cup 2022 and now they have defeated them in a 50-over World Cup convincingly.
After a delay of two hours due to heavy rain the match was reduced to 43 overs per side. South Africa won the toss and opted to bowl first under favorable conditions for seam bowling.
The Dutch openers- Vikramjit Singh and Max O’Dowd, weathered the storm for a few overs before the South African pacers hit their mark. The wickets fell at regular intervals, and the Netherlands were struggling at 140/7 in the 34th over.
A few of the Dutch batters got to start, but none of them failed to trouble the African nation until Roelof van der Merwe walked out to bat number 9.
The former South African played a few unbelievable strokes and built confidence in Scott Edwards, who joined hands together to change the complexion of the game. The duo added 64 runs for the 8th wicket, which was followed by another excellent partnership (unbeaten 41 runs) for the 9th wicket between skipper Edwards and Aryan Dutt.
The Dutch skipper hit a magnificent half-century and remained unbeaten at 78 off 69 balls, while van der Merwe scored 29 off 19 balls, and Dutt was unbeaten at 23 off just 9 balls, shifting the momentum completely in the Orange camp.
For South Africa, Ngidi, Rabada, and Jansen picked a couple of wickets, while Coetzee and Maharaj scalped a wicket each.
Kohli rated as biggest impact player on the field
New Delhi: India’s impeccable start in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup has been recognized, and at the forefront is the seasoned icon Virat Kohli, emerging as the player with the most substantial influence on the field in the tournament’s first 13 days.
Kohli has a total of three catches through three matches for India – two less than tournament leaders for non-wicket-keepers Matt Henry of New Zealand and Australia veteran David Warner – but his impact on the field reaches much further than that, ICC reports.
The India dynamo is high on the list of runs saved and pressure ratings through three matches for all teams at the event and his total of 22.30 points sees him sit on top overall for fielding impact at the World Cup.
Kohli’s closest challengers are a pair of fellow veterans, with former England captain Joe Root (four catches) and Warner (five catches) his closest rivals.
Pakistan, New Zealand, Australia and India each have two players sitting inside a star-studded top 10, while the tournament hosts have another just outside with all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja in 11th.
It means India are well out in front of the team ratings, with their 14 catches for the tournament thus far assisted by a total of 10 runs saved, 16 pressure acts and a quartet of good throws.
