A couple of nights after Afghanistan's sensational win over defending champions England in Delhi, the Netherlands scripted their own history by completing a 38-run victory over South Africa in Dharamsala on Tuesday. In a rain-affected match, the brave Dutchmen, led by captain Scott Edwards, not only navigated rough weather but also successfully countered the challenges thrown at them by a high-flying Proteas side. (Highlights | Scorecard | Photos | Full Coverage)
Put into bat first, the Holland top order endured some fiery spells from South Africa's pace battery featuring Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Marco Jansen and Gerald Coetzee. From 22/1 in the seventh over, it became 50/4 in the 16th. By the end of the 34th over, the European minnows were tottering at 140/7. But with ever-enterprising Edwards holding one end, and some fireworks happening late in the innings, the Netherlands managed to post 245/8 in 43 overs, a total which turned out to be more than enough. South Africa were eventually dismissed for 207 runs in 42.5 overs.
With that here's a look at the all key stats and numbers from the 15th match of the ODI Cricket World Cup 2023 between South Africa and the Netherlands:
Rain and extras
Rain delayed the start of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 match 15. Play began at 4:00 pm IST, two hours later than the scheduled start time, thus making it a 43-overs-per-side game. Overs allocation also changed: Three bowlers were allowed to bowl nine overs apiece, and two eight each.
For the first time, South Africa conceded 30-plus extras, 32, in an innings in the World Cup. It also was the 52nd occasion of a team conceding 30-plus extras in the World Cup, and the third occasion of a team doing the same against the Netherlands. Here's a look at the matches:
| Opponent | Extras | Bye | Leg Bye | Wide | No Ball | NED Scores | Overs | Ground | Date |
| UAE | 30 | 4 | 15 | 11 | 0 | 216/9 | 50 | Lahore | 01-Mar-96 |
| PAK | 40 | 6 | 11 | 17 | 6 | 156/10 | 39.3 | Paarl | 25-Feb-03 |
| RSA | 32 | 0 | 10 | 21 | 1 | 245/8 | 43 | Dharamsala | 17-Oct-23 |
Captain Marvellous
Scott Edwards, who scored 78 not out, became only the second Netherlands captain to score a fifty in the World Cup. Peter Borren was the first Dutch skipper to do so. Borren had scored 84 against Ireland at Eden Gardens, Kolkata on March 18, 2011.
Edwards' knock in the South Africa vs Netherlands match provided the 187th occasion of a captain, and 18th occasion of a captain wicketkeeper-batter, scoring a fifty in an innings in the World Cup. It also marked the 128th occasion of a wicketkeeper-batter scoring a fifty in the World Cup. But a first for the Netherlands wicketkeeper-batter. So far, the Netherlands batters have hit 18 fifties in the World Cup.
Scott Edwards was adjudged the Player of the Match for his performance in this game. The 27-year-old Tonga-born cricketer became the 37th captain in World Cup history to get the award. The Australian-Dutch also became the fourth captain wicketkeeper in the tournament's history to get the Player of the Match award.
Dutch high and Proteas low
The Netherlands dismissed South Africa for 207 in this game to provide the 320th occasion of a team getting all out in an innings in the World Cup. This was the 14th time that the Proteas were dismissed all out in the World Cup. The South African innings provided the 180th occasion of a team, and the 11th time for South Africa, to get dismissed all out while batting second in the World Cup.
The 38-run win for the Netherlands marked the 14th occasion of a non-Test-playing team beating a Test-playing team in the ODI World Cup. Here's a look at all the such shock wins:
| Team | Margin | Opposition | Ground | Date |
| Sri Lanka | 47 runs | India | Manchester | 16-Jun-79 |
| Zimbabwe | 9 runs | England | Albury | 18-Mar-92 |
| Kenya | 73 runs | West Indies | Pune | 29-Feb-96 |
| Bangladesh | 62 runs | Pakistan | Northampton | 31-May-99 |
| Canada | 60 runs | Bangladesh | Durban | 11-Feb-03 |
| Kenya | Walk over | New Zealand | Nairobi (Gym) | 21-Feb-03 |
| Kenya | 53 runs | Sri Lanka | Nairobi (Gym) | 24-Feb-03 |
| Kenya | 32 runs | Bangladesh | Johannesburg | 01-Mar-03 |
| Kenya | 7 wkts | Zimbabwe | Bloemfontein | 12-Mar-03 |
| Ireland | 3 wkts | Pakistan | Kingston | 17-Mar-07 |
| Ireland | 74 runs | Bangladesh | Bridgetown | 15-Apr-07 |
| Ireland | 3 wkts | England | Bengaluru | 02-Mar-11 |
| Ireland | 5 runs | Zimbabwe | Hobart | 07-Mar-15 |
| Netherlands | 38 runs | South Africa | Dharamsala | 17-Oct-23 |
Gloveworks
Logan van Beek's dismissal was the 152nd occasion of a batter getting stumped out in an innings in the World Cup. It also provided the ninth occasion of a Netherlands batter getting dismissed stumped in the World Cup.
Quinton de Kock effected three dismissals in the South Africa vs Netherlands match to provide the 132nd occasion of a wicketkeeper effecting three or more dismissals in an innings in the World Cup. It also provides the fifth occasion of a South African wicketkeeper effecting three or more dismissals in the World Cup.
Stats courtesy: HR Gopala Krishna – Veteran cricket statistician
