Proteas bowlers restrict Netherlands to 189 all out in Benoni ODI

A good all-round bowling performance from the Proteas saw the Netherlands bowled out for a well below par 189 in their ODI clash at Willowmoore Park in Benoni on Friday afternoon.

Tabraiz Shamsi starred with the ball, picking up 3/25 in his 10 overs with some top bowling in the middle overs, but it was Sisanda Magala who made the early breakthrough’s and finished with good figures of 3/37 to back him up well.

Only opener Vikramjit Singh, 45 off 53 balls (4×4; 3×6) and middle order batter Teja Nidamanuru, 48 off 71 (3×6) managed to defy the Proteas bowlers during their innings.

The Netherlands got their innings off to a strong start as Singh and Max O’Dowd (18) shared 58 for the first wicket.

Singh was looking in particularly good nick as he deposited pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada twice over the leg side boundary for sixes when he bowled short, as the opener grew in confidence after a slow start to his innings.

The introduction of Magala into the attack finally brought the breakthrough as he found the edge of O’Dowd’s bat, with keeper Quinton de Kock doing the rest behind the stumps.

This initially didn’t have an impact on Singh as another short delivery disappeared over the square leg boundary for his third six, but Magala got his revenge soon after as Singh tried to hit him down the ground, only to pop a catch to Temba Bavuma running around to pouch it at mid-off, as they slipped to 71/2.

Anrich Nortje then too centre stage as he had Wesley Barresi (7) caught at deep midwicket by Rabada after the drinks break, and had captain Scott Edwards (5) caught by Marco Jansen as the Netherlands tumbled to 94/4.

Musa Ahmed (17) soon became Shamsi’s first scalp as he edged behind to de Kock leaving them in big trouble on 105/5.

Despite Nidamarunu showing some fight, as he struck three sixes in almost getting himself to a half century, he unfortunately watched as regular wickets tumbled around him until he was eighth man out, feathering an edge to de Kock off the bowling of Magala, and the score on 178/8.

Shamsi and Janesn then closed out the innings with Paul van Meekeren (7) stumped, and Ryan Klein (8) popping a catch back to the fast bowler to end the innings.

The Proteas should be able to comfortably chase down the low score and secure a big win as they try and qualify directly for the ODI World Cup later this year.