World Twenty20 powerhouses South Africa survived a major scare when they scrambled past rank outsiders Netherlands by six runs in a Group 1 Super 10 match in Bangladesh yesterday.
The Netherlands, who posted the lowest Twenty20 international score of 39 in Monday’s rout by Sri Lanka, looked ready to pull off the biggest upset of the tournament, before imploding when set for victory.
Chasing 146 to win in Chittagong, opener Steven Myburgh (51) gave them a flying start as he thumped eight fours and two sixes in a 28-ball knock.
Photo: AFP
However, after Myburgh played a ball from spinner J.P. Duminy on to his stumps, the Netherlands produced a series of rash shots and lost wickets at regular intervals.
Leg-spinner Imran Tahir claimed four for 21, while pace spearhead Dale Steyn picked up two for 19.
“We obviously let this one go,” Netherlands captain Peter Borren said at the presentation ceremony.
“We played across the line to Tahir and you’ve got to play him a bit straighter,” the skipper said. “It’s a bit of a shame our batters couldn’t get the job done.”
“As miffed as I am with the fact that we didn’t get over the line, I am also proud with the way we stepped up after our game the other night,” he said.
Earlier, Ahsan Malik’s five for 19 restricted South Africa to 145-9 after they were put in to bat.
Opener Hashim Amla gave South Africa a brisk start with 43 off 22 balls containing seven fours and a six.
They then lost wickets in clusters against Malik’s medium pace and struggled for momentum toward the end of the innings.
“We are making it hard for ourselves. It’s a great sign when your side isn’t playing at 100 percent and you still manage to get across the line,” South Africa captain Faf du Plessis said, also referring to the tense two-run win over New Zealand.
“We are playing at about 50 to 60 percent... that was a great fightback,” he said. “Netherlands played fantastically today. You have to give them credit. Obviously they didn’t pull through a game they should have won, but they stepped up to the plate.”
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