NED vs SA, World Cup 2023: Netherlands look for Afghanistan inspiration to surprise South Africa

Dharamsala: Netherlands will take on an in-form South Africa in search of their first points here at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium on Tuesday.

After overcoming Sri Lanka and Australia challenges with ease, Temba Bavuma’s South Africa will look to ensure that their unbeaten run in the tournament continues against the Netherlands.

The Proteas batters have got plenty of runs, while their bowlers have been picking up wickets with ease.

Even though all seems to be going well for the side, they’ll know the value of points in long-drawn tournaments such as these. A close loss to Netherlands in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 saw the Proteas lose out on a semi-final spot.

While Bavuma’s side will look to make amends on that front, Netherlands will be keen to lift their game after losing their first two matches in India, an ICC report said.

The Dutch are a much better side than the results show, and will be keen to prove that in Dharamsala. They'd love to take some inspiration from Afghanistan, who managed to upend higher-ranked England in their Cricket World Cup clash on Sunday.

Dharamsala is a new venue for both these sides, and they’ll look at the past results for clues. While spinners came into play in the Afghanistan-Bangladesh game, England made the most of a decent batting strip in the second contest.

Scott Edwards has been an inspirational figure for the Netherlands in recent times. And they need him to be at his very best, both on the field as a leader and as a middle-order batter, to help them lift their game.

Edwards is no stranger to performing on big occasions, with three of his four half-centuries during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2023 coming against Test-playing nations.

Having managed only 30 runs in the tournament so far, Edwards will look to start anew against familiar opponents South Africa. He can take inspiration from his 42 from 33 against the Proteas during a bilateral ODI engagement earlier this year.

Pacers have had their fair share of success during the Cricket World Cup in India, and Kagiso Rabada has been the pick of South Africa fast bowlers. Anrich Nortje’s absence from the tournament has seemingly spurred the 28-year-old to greater heights.

His five wickets have come at 16.6, but more importantly he has picked up important scalps at key moments. He accounted for the dangerous Kusal Mendis in Delhi, while he got Steve Smith lbw before the batter could get going.

South Africa will hope a number of crucial breakthroughs come from their ace pacer.

Squads:

Netherlands: Scott Edwards (c), Max O'Dowd, Bas de Leede, Vikram Singh, Teja Nidamanuru, Paul van Meekeren, Colin Ackermann, Roelof van der Merwe, Logan van Beek, Aryan Dutt, Ryan Klein, Wesley Barresi, Saqib Zulfiqar, Shariz Ahmad, Sybrand Engelbrecht.

South Africa: Temba Bavuma (c), Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen, Lizaad Williams. (UNI)