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Tuesday, October 17, 2023

the great 'Orange' upset !!

 The expression says it all !!!

 


Not many, not many Cricket lovers would have shown great interest in today’s match – which was delayed by rain and converted to 43 overs game.   Bavuma and Edwards walked out for the toss with floodlights well and truly on, with sky looking overcast.    Bavuma gave the coin a flick,  Edwards called heads.  SA chose to field - Vikramjit Singh and Max O'Dowd opened.

Before you read, remember following that match in 1983 WC when minnows Zimbabwe faced a hostile attack of Jeff Thomson, Dennis Lillee, Geoff Lawson, Rodney Hogg + spin from Graham Yallop and Akan Border and created history beating Aussies.  Will some upset happen today – this WC 2023  has seen Afghans beat England already.

Holland is a region and former province in the western part of the Netherlands. Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands.  Netherlands,  informally Holland,  is a country in Western Europe along the North Sea coast. In Europe, it consists of 12 provinces that border Germany, Belgium, North Sea and United Kingdom. 

In the Dutch Golden Age, spanning much of the 17th century, the Dutch Empire grew to become one of the major seafaring and economic powers. Science, military and art (especially painting) were among the most acclaimed in the world. By 1650, the Dutch owned 16,000 merchant ships. The Dutch East India Company and the Dutch West India Company established colonies and trading posts all over the world. The Dutch settlement in North America began with the founding of New Amsterdam in 1614. In South Africa, the Dutch settled the Cape Colony in 1652. Dutch colonies in South America were established along the many rivers in the fertile Guyana plains, among them Colony of Surinam (now Suriname). In Asia, the Dutch established a presence in India too.    

In Dutch innings, towards Aryan Dutt walking in at 10 hit 3 towering sixers.  Dutt’s father is from Hoshiarpur, Punjab but his parents moved to Holland in 1980s where he was born.   

Today’s ODI no. 4672 – the 15th match at Dharamshala in ICC World Cup 2023 would be talked for long.    At 112 for 6 in 27 overs, Netherlands seemed gone awry but they scripted a turnaround that speaks volumes of their character and resolve. Scott Edwards, who plays a lot of cricket in Australia, led the way with a terrific exhibition of batting, especially against spin, to keep the scorecard chugging along. He was supported amply, first by Logan van Beek and then by Roelof van der Merwe.

Men in orange have seen ups and downs - On January 23, 2014, Netherlands lost their ODI status after losing against Kenya in the final match of the Super Sixes of the World Cup Qualifier for the 2015 tournament. Exactly a year later they won the World Cricket League Division Two title, and late in 2017, they would win the World Cricket League Championship to regain ODI status  

Their qualifying for this WC eliminating West Indies was magical.  Scotland scored 277 and needed to prevent Netherlands from crossing it in 44 overs; de Leede ensured it didn't happen.   With 170 more needed in 20 overs, and then 102 in the final ten, Dutch hopes were hanging on Bas de Leede, who had taken a five-for earlier in the game. The son of former Dutch allrounder and three-time World Cupper Tim, de Leede then proceeded to make the world sit up, with a nerveless century to take Netherlands through - the only Associate in a World Cup that is otherwise an exclusive club of Full Members

Today they posted an imposing 245/8 in 43 overs and their bowlers have ensured that SA was put under pressure and succumbed !! – generally South Africa would choke towards the end of the WC – have they started a little too early !

Full credits to Nederland Capt Edwards who is also their wicket-keeper, their ground fielding and catching .. .. and the bowling of Aryan Dutt, Logan van Beek, Colin Ackermann, Paul van Meekeren, Roelof van der Merwe & Bas de Leede

A win by Netherland has opened up the conundrums of World Cup 2023  - the pic at the start is : Roelof Erasmus van der Merwe  who has played internationally for both South Africa and the Netherlands, one of the few players to represent more than one international team.

with regards – S. Sampathkumar

17.10.2023 @ 22.30

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