Proteas survive major scare

CHITTAGONG. — South Africa held their nerve to stave off a major scare against Netherlands and win their Group One super 10 match by six runs in the World Twenty20 in Chittagong yesterday.
The Dutch, who posted the lowest Twenty20 international score of 39 in Monday’s rout by Sri Lanka, looked set to pull off the biggest upset of the tournament but imploded when set for victory.

Chasing 146 to win, opener Steven Myburgh (51) gave the Dutch a flying start, thumping eight fours and two sixes during his 28-ball knock.
But after he played JP Duminy on to his stumps the Netherlands, with a series of rash shots, lost wickets at regular intervals.
Legspinner Imran Tahir claimed four wickets for 21 runs and pace spearhead Dale Steyn picked up two for 19.

Earlier, paceman Ahsan Malik recorded the best bowling figures by a Dutchman to help the Netherlands restrict South Africa to 145-9.
Malik led a much improved show by the Netherlands with 5-19 in his four overs against a formidable South African batting line up which couldn’t get going after they were put into bat in the Super-10 Group one match.

The 24-year-old bettered the previous best bowling feat by a Dutch bowler of 4-19 achieved by teammate Pieter Seelaar against Kenya in Abu Dhabi four years ago.

South Africa lost opener Quinton de Kock in the first over for nought and couldn’t get the kick start they needed at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury stadium.

Hashim Amla, who hit seven boundaries and a six off 22 balls, top-scored with 43 and tried to lift the tempo but regular wickets kept the South Africans in check.

Amla hit four boundaries and a six off one Michael Swart over but Malik removed him in his first over and then took the dangerous Albie Morkel (5) in his second.

He also took Dale Steyn (5), Beuran Hendricks (3) and David Miller (17) to improve on his previous best figures of 3-16, in the tournament.
Even AB de Villiers (21), skipper Faf du Plessis (24) and Jean-Paul Duminy (12) failed to score big as they fell to miscued shots.

South Africa left out paceman Morne Morkel to bring Hendricks into the side which beat New Zealand by two runs on Monday.
The Netherlands kept the same side which were bundled out for the lowest-ever Twenty20 total of 39 against Sri Lanka on Monday. — AFP.