South Africa have been eliminated from the T20 World Cup after slumping to a shock 13-run defeat to Netherlands in their final Group 2 game in Adelaide.
Chasing 159 to secure a spot in next week’s semi-finals, the Proteas stumbled to 145-8 with Rilee Rossouw (25 of 19) top-scoring on a slow pitch.
Seven of South Africa’s top eight reached double figures but none could push on against a disciplined Dutch attack as Temba Bavuma’s side were knocked out.
The Proteas’ defeat confirmed India’s spot in the semi-finals, with the winner of Pakistan vs Bangladesh to take the second qualification spot in Group 2.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Roelof van der Merwe took a brilliant catch to dismiss David Miller as Netherlands dumped South Africa out of the T20 World Cup
South Africa appeared to be closing in on the knockout stages a week ago, with a five-wicket win over India following a rain-off against Zimbabwe and a 104-run demolition of Bangladesh.
However, they then lost a rain-affected clash against Pakistan on Thursday and this defeat to Netherlands has now ended their hopes of a first World Cup title.
South Africa falter in chase as Van der Merwe stars in the field
Dutch seamers Fred Klaassen (2-20) and Brandon Glover (3-9) were instrumental in restricting South Africa, Klaassen with the first wicket of the innings when he had an advancing Quinton de Kock (13) caught behind by Scott Edwards in the third over.
Bavuma (20) was cleaned up by Paul van Meekeren at the end of the sixth, while Glover went on to account for Rossouw, David Miller (17) and Wayne Parnell (0).
Netherlands bowled and fielded brilliantly to restrict South Africa to 145-8 in a chase of 159
Miller was dismissed by a superb catch from former South Africa all-rounder Roelof van der Merwe, with the 37-year-old, who played for the Proteas in the 2009 and 2010 T20 World Cups, running back from short fine leg to take a screamer.
With the bat, Netherlands made 158-4 after being inserted – openers Stephan Myburgh (37 off 30) and Max O’Dowd (29 off 31) putting on 58, before Tom Cooper (35 off 19), Colin Ackermann (41no off 26) and Edwards (12no off 7) contributed.
Ackermann and Edwards plundered 31 runs across the final two overs of the innings, with Kagiso Rabada struck for three fours in the 19th and Ackermann nailing Parnell for two sixes in the 20th, runs that would ultimately cost South Africa dear.
Netherlands were left to toast a second successive win in the Super 12s, with this triumph over the Proteas following a victory over Zimbabwe after they had begun the round with defeats to Bangladesh, India and Pakistan.
What’s next?
Next week’s semi-finals are in Sydney on Wednesday and then Adelaide on Thursday, both at 8am UK time, with the final in Melbourne on Sunday, November 13 also an 8am start UK time.
