South Africa creates history as Netherlands are decapitated
The match between South Africa and Netherlands was one of the most action-packed matches played in the history of Cricket World Cup. Though the match played at Warner Park, St Kitts was reduced to just 40-overs due to wet out field nevertheless the match was one of the most enthralling match played since a very long time.
As the game started at 12:00 pm local time after Netherlands captain Luuk van Troost won the toss and elected to field first. South Africa, who has recently been ranked as No. 1 team in ODIs after they displaced defending ICC Cricket World Cup champions Australia, hammered the bowling attack of Netherlands.
In just 40-overs South Africa completely demoralized the Netherlands bowlers by scoring a mammoth 353/3 though the Dutch bowlers Billy Stelling and Darron Reekers gave a good start to Netherlands. Initially the bowlers maintained a good line and length and their disciplined bowling had reduced South Africans to 4/1 in the first 5-overs. In fact ace batsman A B de Villers was caught behind on the second ball off Billy Stelling, who bowled a maiden wicket over.
The South African innings got off to the worst possible start but Smith and Kallis added 114 for the 2nd wicket partnership. As South Africa recovered from a bad start many records were broken, Man of the match Herschelle Gibbs scored 72 of just 40 balls which also includes six 6s he had hit in an over from Daan van Bunge. In fact during this South African innings also saw 18 sixes were hit which is maximum number of sixes hit in any one-day international.
After Gibbs’ departure Mark Boucher added fire to the crease by scoring 75 of just 31 balls and in the process he made fasted 50 in 21 balls which was another record broken in this ICC Cricket World Cup.
Though South Africa completely dominated the match Netherlands being the minnows gave them a tough competition. This match will surely register itself in the best played matches in the history of ICC Cricket World Cup.
Brief Score: South Africa 353/3 (Graeme Smith 67,Jacques Kallis 128, Herschelle Gibbs 72) vs. Netherlands132/9(RN ten Doeschate 57)
Result: South Africa won the match by 221 runs
Man of the Match: Herschelle Herman Gibbs
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