By Edmund J. Rogers 
The Netherlands won a magnificent scalp at the Cricket World Cup by defeating South Africa in rampant style in Dharamshala.
Captain Scott Edwards scored 78 wins without defeat as the Dutch, who had not previously won, surprised a Proteas team that looked impressive in its first two matches, winning 102 and 134 against Sri Lanka and Australia respectively.
The Netherlands recovered from the first blow with a score of 82-5 and scored 245-8 points in a match reduced to 43 overs on each side due to rain.
In response, South Africa struggled at first with a score of 44-4 and then with a score of 145-7, when top scorer David Miller (43) became one of Logan van Beek’s wickets in his 3-60 series, as the Proteas eventually lost with a score of 207 in the final.
The Dutch’s 38-point victory was their first ODI World Cup victory since they beat Scotland in St. Kitts and Nevis in 2007.
A dream Double for Dutch Cricket
It was a day of punishment for Temba Bavuma’s team when South Africa lost to the Dutch double and the Netherlands scored their second grand victory over the Proteas at the World Cup in less than 12 months.
Last November, a surprise Dutch victory in Adelaide took South Africa out of the T20 World Cup, and on Tuesday it suffered a defeat with a score equivalent to more than 50 in Dharamshala.
South Africa lost many promising positions as its playoff hopes suffered a serious setback, further highlighted by Saturday’s match against England in Bombay.
For the Netherlands, this should be considered the best victory in their history, because although they beat the West Indies and qualified for the tournament, this South African team is quietly eager to become rivals in India.
The Dutch fell behind with a score of 50-4 and then 112-6, but Captain Edwards saved them from seventh place.
His unbeaten score of 78 from 69 balls was complemented by decisive strikes from Roelof van der Merwe (29 from 19) and Ariane Dutt (23 not out of nine), when the Netherlands scored 245-8.
Bavuma and Quinton de Kock, who have won victories over Sri Lanka and Australia over the centuries, started well, but the pair, plus Aiden Markram and Rassi van der Dussen, crashed out within 21 games.
The 36-0 position turned into 44-4 before Heinrich Klaasen and Miller used the 45th throw to stabilize the position of the ship. However, Klaasen’s dismissal leaved all South Africa’s hopes for Miller.
The drop to 23rd place seemed like an important moment, but the out-of-rhythm Jaffa from the peril Van Beek cut off the top of Miller’s stump as he started in 43rd place to end South Africa’s hopes.
Edwards: “Proud of the band”
Netherlands captain Edwards was proud of his team after they surprised South Africa in a World Cup match on Tuesday and said they came to the tournament with a dream of reaching the quarterfinals.
The only country that did not participate in the test at the tournament staged a big surprise for previously undefeated South Africa, scoring a famous victory a year after defeating the Proteas at the T20 World Cup.