David Miller played a starring role as South Africa overcame the Netherlands to secure a four-wicket victory in their T20 World Cup Group D clash in New York.
At the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, the Proteas cruised home behind David Miller’s undefeated 59 off 51 balls. The South Africans finished on 106-6 after holding the Dutch to 103-9 from their 20 overs.
But for a brief while, it appeared as though the Dutch, fresh off victories at the 2022 T20 World Cup and the 2023 ODI World Cup, were about to pull off another historic shock over the South Africans.
In 4.3 overs, the Dutch bowling attack broke through early, leaving the Proteas reeling at 12-4 and even 3-3 at one point.
However, with a fifth wicket stand of 65, Tristan Stubbs and Miller pulled South Africa off the ropes and put the Proteas in a winning position.
Miller sent South Africa home with a half century that had three fours and four sixes, including a six off Bas de Leede in the 19th over to win the victory, while Stubbs eventually fell for 33.
“It was just a good finish in the end,” a relieved Miller said afterwards. “Credit to the Netherlands bowlers – they bowled really well.
“They made it difficult for us to score. But we have got over the line with our tailenders, so I have faith.”
With the victory over the Netherlands, Proteas captain Aiden Markram stated his squad had surmounted a psychological obstacle following their prior high-profile losses.
“We knew they were always going to up for a scrap,” Markram said. “It’s a game of cricket ultimately. The history before this game was obviously they beat us. It’s a mental blockade — and we were under pressure again today.”
Earlier, South Africa restricted the Netherlands to a meagre 103-9 thanks to a brilliant four-wicket haul from Ottniel Baartman.
With two wickets taken by each of Marco Jansen and Anrich Nortje to keep the Dutch batsmen on the back foot, Baartman concluded with figures of 4-11 off four overs.
After a review, Jansen had the Netherlands roaring in the first over, dismissing Michael Levitt who had been caught behind for a duck.
Max O’Dowd edged past Baartman, and Jansen was engaged once more for South Africa’s second wicket, taking a magnificent one-handed diving catch at first slip.
After four overs, that had the Netherlands reeling at 15-2. In the next over, they were down to three wickets as Jansen took his second wicket, destroying Vikramjist Singh’s stumps to make it 17-3.
The next to fall was De Leede, who was caught for six runs off a ball that shot high off the wicket by Nortje.
In the twelfth over, things went south for the Netherlands.
First Edwards was out for ten after South Africa’s captain Aiden Markram played an outstanding game of fielding.
The score was 48-6 when Teja Nidamanuru’s leading edge found its way to deep third man and Heinrich Klaasen’s clutches. Three balls later, Nortje claimed another wicket.
In the last overs, South Africa’s bowlers made a comeback, with Sybrand Engelbrecht and Logan van Beek losing to Baartman for 40 and 23, respectively, after a brief comeback.
Photo by John Angelillo/UPI/Shutterstock
