“South Africa’s Unbeaten Streak Halted: Netherlands Shocks with a 38-Run Victory in Dharamsala”
In a rain-affected match reduced to 43 overs per side, South Africa’s dominance took an unexpected turn as the Netherlands posted a total of 245-8. Captain Scott Edwards played a pivotal role in a remarkable recovery, leading the Dutch side from a precarious 82-5 to their final total.
In response, Temba Bavuma’s team stumbled from 36-0 to 44-4 and was eventually bowled out for 207 in the last over. This victory marked the Netherlands’ first win of the tournament and their maiden triumph over a Test-playing nation at a 50-over World Cup.
While South Africa’s batting display left much to be desired, it was their bowling performance towards the end of the Netherlands’ innings that contributed to their downfall. The Proteas’ discipline waned as Edwards and lower-order batsmen Roelof van der Merwe and Aryan Dutt counter-attacked, amassing 105 runs from the last 9.1 overs.
Despite the shock defeat, South Africa remains in a favorable position to qualify for the knockout stage, having previously defeated Australia and Sri Lanka. They will seek to rebound in their upcoming match against England in Mumbai on Saturday, with England also coming off a surprising loss to Afghanistan.
