Proteas all-rounder Marco Jansen leaves the field after being dismissed during the World Cup match against Netherlands. Picture: Pankaj Nangia/Gallo Images
The Proteas must have been feeling an unwanted sense of déjà vu last night after crashing in another shock defeat to the Netherlands at the Cricket World Cup.
The SA team, who had been dumped out of last year’s T20 World Cup after losing to the Dutch side, capitulated again in Dharamshala as they were handed their first defeat of the 50-over showpiece.
Chasing 246 runs from 43 overs, in a game that was delayed by two hours due to rain, the in-form Proteas ultimately fell short as their unfancied opponents secured a 38-run victory.
Following an opening stand of 36 runs between Quinton de Kock and captain Temba Bavuma, the Proteas suffered a crushing collapse.
De Kock (20) fell when Colin Ackermann had him caught behind in the eighth over, and the SA team went on to lose three more wickets for the addition of just eight runs as they were left flailing at 44/4.
David Miller top-scored with 43 runs off 52 deliveries and tail-ender Keshav Maharaj made an ODI career best 40 with a gutsy effort at the back of the innings, but they never really recovered and were ultimately bundled out for 207.
Logan van Beek was not cheap, but he returned the best figures of the Netherland attack with 3/60.
Earlier, South Africa’s bowlers lost control, with Dutch captain Scott Edwards leading an impressive comeback after the Netherlands lost the toss and were sent in to bat.
The Proteas’ frontline bowlers did well to strangle the top order and their opponents were left reeling at 50/4 in the 16th over.
The Dutch side’s middle-order managed to stabilise their innings, however, with Edwards contributing 78 not out. The skipper carried his team over the line, joining former Proteas player Roelof van der Merwe in a 64-run stand for the eighth wicket as they racked up a total of 245/8.
The Proteas attack, which had two decisions overturned after successful reviews for the second match in a row, were again spearheaded by fast bowlers Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi and Marco Jansen, who took two wickets each. Jansen was particularly miserly, giving away just 27 runs from his eight overs with the ball.
After putting in the hard yards in the early stages, however, they lost their grip on the innings as Edwards laid the foundation for his team’s first victory of the quadrennial tournament.
The SA squad, who were left trailing log leaders India and New Zealand by two points, will next face England in a round-robin match on Saturday.
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