Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra couldn’t contain his astonishment as the Netherlands pulled off an incredible upset, defeating South Africa in the ICC World Cup 2023. Chopra, in a video shared on his YouTube channel, highlighted the extraordinary and somewhat bewildering nature of this victory, especially considering a string of one-sided matches in the tournament.
The Netherlands scripted a historic moment as they secured their first-ever One Day International (ODI) victory against a formidable South African side. The stage for this triumph was set in Dharamshala on Tuesday, October 17. The Dutch, known for their spirited performance at last year’s T20 World Cup, once again proved their mettle. Defending a target of 246 runs in a rain-curtailed game, they clinched a 38-run win.
Aakash Chopra emphasized how the Netherlands has consistently proven to be a challenging adversary for South Africa, underlining the essence of cricket’s unpredictability.
In his words, “They can beat Australia, but the Netherlands are beyond South Africa’s grasp. Another upset has happened. Matches are happening one-sided, but when beautiful upsets happen, the heart finds solace. The Netherlands have won, and South Africa has lost.”
The Netherlands’ innings saw them post a total of 245 runs in 43 overs. The standout performer, Scott Edwards, played a pivotal role in the team’s recovery after they found themselves struggling at 140/7. Edwards showcased sheer brilliance with an unbeaten 78 off 69 deliveries, embellishing his performance with 10 boundaries and a towering six.
Aakash Chopra commended Netherlands’ skipper, Scott Edwards, for anchoring crucial partnerships with lower-order batsmen. The team’s innings, which had a shaky start with early wickets falling, turned around significantly.
Chopra noted, “They got the chance to bat first here. They got stuck at the start, whether it was Marco Jansen, Lungi Ngidi, or Gerald Coetzee; the wickets were falling, and they were in difficulty. However, Scott Edwards was there, and along with him was first Roelof van der Merwe and then Aryan Dutt. They strung together partnerships. The tailenders made contributions of 25-odd runs, and Scott Edwards scored 78, and the team reached a decent score.”
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The Netherlands’ batters displayed remarkable dominance in the final 11 overs, where they amassed more than 110 runs. Van der Merwe played a crucial role, contributing 29 runs off 19 deliveries, while Aryan Dutt chipped in with an unbeaten 23 runs off just 9 balls.
Currently, the Dutch team occupies a notable position in the 10-team points table in this prestigious tournament. Their journey continues as they prepare to face Sri Lanka in their next match at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Saturday, October 21.
