Mohali, March 3: Netherlands failed to live up to the expectations they had raised after putting up a brave fight against England as they lost to South Africa by a huge margin of 231 runs in a Group B 2011 ICC World Cup game. Chasing 352 to win, Netherlands were all out for a measly 120 runs at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali.
Jacques Kallis, who failed with the bat, orchestrated the Dutch downfall with the wicket of opener Alexei Kervezee. After that dismissal, wickets kept falling at frequent intervals. Netherlands Man-of-the-Match for the previous game, Ryan ten Doeschate, was sent back by Dale Steyn for just 11 runs. Wesley Barresi’s knock of 44 runs went in vain as wickets kept falling at the other end. After Barresi was dismissed by JP Duminy, Imran Tahir wrapped-up the tail, picking up three wickets.
Earlier, put in to bat by Netherlands, South Africa seemed a bit shaky in the beginning with Hashim Amla's edgy form. But Amla soon found his nick and built a 221-run partnership with AB de Villiers who came in after the departure of Graeme Smith (20).
The South African run rate was hovering at round five an over at the 40th over mark. But at the start of the 42nd over, SA took the batting power-play and de Villiers cut loose. Pieter Seelaar was his first victim as the over went for 16 runs.
The 44th over, bowled by Bernard Loots, went for 25 runs as de Villiers hit three sixes off the first three balls, followed by a four by Amla later in the over. Ryan ten Doeschate, bowling the next over, met a similar fate with de Villiers hitting three consecutive boundaries off him. But the Dutch player got the wicket of Amla (113) and in the next over ran de Villiers (134 off 98) out.
But by then the damage was done, both batsman had scored centuries and SA had 283 runs on board. JP Duminy, who replaced de Villiers, continued the assault, scoring 40 off just 15 deliveries with 4 sixes and 2 fours before getting out on the penultimate ball of the last over.
South Africa's score of 351 for the loss of five wickets proved too much for the less fancied Dutch team on the day.
Brief scores: South Africa 351/5 in 50 overs (AB de Villiers 134, Hashim Amla 113, Ryan ten Doeschate 3/72) beat Netherlands 120 all out in 34.5 overs (Wesley Barresi 44, Imran Tahir 3/19, J Kallis 2/19, Robin Peterson 2/22) by 231 runs
Man-of-the-match: AB de Villiers for his blazing knock of 134 off just 98 balls that set up South Africa's mammoth score of 351.
