South Africa have strengthened their chances of directly qualifying for ODI World Cup later this year in India with a massive 146-run win over Netherlands at the Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg on April 2. Aiden Markram’s 175-run knock, David Miller’s demolishing 61-ball 91 followed Sisanda Magala's fifer helped Proteas outclass visitors. Now, the only way South Africa will have to play World Cup qualifiers is if Ireland beat Bangladesh in the ODI series 3-0.
Netherlands skipper Scott Edwards won the toss and opted to field first. Vivian Kingma struck early and got rid of openers Quinton de Kock (8) and Temba Bavuma (6). Rassie van der Dussen played himself in but got out to Aryan Dutt in the 19th over. He scored 25 runs from 40 deliveries. Markram looked in good touch and got to his half-century with a six in the next over. Heinrich Klaasen attacked from the start but got dismissed by Shariz Ahmad. Klaasen scored 28 off 21 balls.
David Miller came out all guns blazing. Markram got to his half-century in the 33rd over. In the 39th over, Dutt took a beating from Markram and Miller. The southpaw got to his half-century with a six from 45 deliveries. Miller broke free after reaching the fifty-run mark. Markram got to his 150 with a six in the 42nd over. Miller accelerated and Markram matched his pace. He had a chance to become South Africa's first ODI double centurion but lost his wicket to Fred Klaassen. He scored 175 runs from 126 deliveries including 17 fours and seven sixes. Miller missed his century as well. He scored 91 runs from 61 balls including six fours and four sixes. They shared a 199-run stand for the fifth-wicket, the highest against the Dutch. South Africa lost a couple more wickets in the slog overs and posted a daunting total of 370/8.
“Lot of relief going through. Happy to have repaid the faith. Lot of credit to those guys who had faith in me. Great knock from Miller. He came in at a time when we needed a partnership. He has been in the form of his life. He deserved a ton. It has been great how it has turned. The team also is going in the right direction in the red and white ball. Thoroughly enjoyed the summer so far. I hope everyone is fine. Always nice to be part of the pink day,” Markram said in the post-match presentation.
In the run chase of 371, Netherlands lost their opener Vikramjit Singh (21) early to Marco Jansen. Max ODowd and Musa Ahmed kept the run chase alive. In the 19th over, Magala broke the partnership with the wicket of ODowd. The opener missed his half-century. He scored 47 runs from 49 deliveries. Markram was introduced into the attack and he dismissed Ahmed. He scored 61 runs from 69 balls including seven fours and three sixes.
Lungi Ngidi joined the party and sent Tom Cooper back to the pavillion for a single-digit score. Wesley Barresi became Magala's second victim of the day. Skipper Edwards decided to take on the bowlers. He scored a quickfire 42 but got trapped in front of the stumps by Markram. The Magala wrapped up Netherlands' tail and completed his maiden fifer in the ODI format. Netherlands got all out for 224 in the 40th over, losing the match by 146 runs.
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