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In the 15th match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, South Africa and the Netherlands are squaring off at the picturesque HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala.
However, this encounter has been marred by rain, resulting in a reduced match format of 43 overs per side. South Africa won the crucial toss and decided to bowl first. In a spirited bowling performance, the Proteas managed to limit the Netherlands to 245 runs, with the Dutch side losing eight wickets.
Scott Edwards powers Netherlands to a respectable total
Despite a promising start from opener Max O’Dowd, his partner Vikramjit Singh struggled and was dismissed by Kagiso Rabada in the seventh over. O’Dowd himself departed after scoring 18 runs.
Colin Ackermann provided some stability, but Rabada took another wicket by dismissing Bas de Leede. The South African bowlers maintained pressure, and despite a partnership between Sybrand Engelbrecht and Teja Nidamanuru, wickets fell at regular intervals.
However, Scott Edwards and Roelof van der Merwe (29) changed the game’s complexion by putting together a quick 50-run partnership. Edwards reached a well-earned fifty, and van der Merwe added a swashbuckling 29 off 19 balls. Aryan Dutt (23 no) and Edwards finished the innings strongly, with the skipper scoring an impressive 78 not out.
South African bowlers Lungi Ngidi, Marco Jansen, and Rabada claimed two wickets each, with Gerald Coetzee and Keshav Maharaj also contributing to the wickets column.
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Quinton de Kock’s remarkable work behind the stumps
A pivotal incident occurred on the final delivery of the 34th over when Maharaj delivered a fuller-length ball that pitched around the middle stump line and exhibited a substantial turn away. Batter Logan van Beek lured into a drive, ventured slightly outside his crease but was left bamboozled as the ball narrowly evaded the outside edge of his bat.
Behind the stumps, wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock seized the opportunity and swiftly dislodged the bails, effecting a crucial stumping that left both teams and the spectators in awe of the skill on display.