The first Betway ODI between the Proteas and the Netherlands ended in a no-result after rain caused the match to be abandoned with the Netherlands on 11 without loss in two overs after South Africa had compiled 277 for eight at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Friday.
Earlier, the Netherlands won the toss and put South Africa in to bat in the first of three scheduled ODIs in the World Cup Super League in which the top eight qualify for the next World Cup in 2023.
A new strain of Covid has thrown the rest of the series into doubt with a final decision expected soon, but assuming the series continues, the next match is scheduled for Centurion on Sunday while the final game will take place in Johannesburg next Wednesday.
In South Africa’s innings, Kyle Verreynne struck a superb 95 off 112 balls but it was a brutal 48 in 22 balls, including six sixes and a four, from Andile Phehlukwayo that gave an often laboured innings an explosive ending.
After 46 overs, South Africa were on a disappointing 216 for seven with no boundaries for eight overs as the Netherlands squeezed the Proteas’ middle order. But Phehlukwayo, in partnership with skipper Keshav Maharaj, soon put that to rights with the last three overs realising 52 runs as the beefy left-hander made the most of a succession of “length” deliveries that he bludgeoned into the stands.
Verreynne and his Western Province teammate, Zubayr Hamza – making his international debut in this format – had laid the building blocks for the innings with a third-wicket partnership of 119 in 137 balls. This was especially valuable after the Proteas struggled initially on a slow, sticky pitch where the ball held up.
The conditions accounted for the early dismissal of Reeza Hendricks, whose check drive off the excellent Fred Klaassen in the fifth over went low to Roelof van der Merwe at extra-cover. Klaassen struck again in his next over when Janneman Malan advanced down the pitch to drive, the cross-seam delivery bounced a little more than usual and the resulting edge went at head height to Netherlands’ skipper Peter Seelaar at slip.
As the conditions eased, the two Province batters began to gain in fluency, with Verreynne the more aggressive of the two.
Hamza, who showed excellent form in the domestic T20 competition earlier this season, reached his maiden ODI half-century in 71 balls – one of 10 South Africans to achieve the feat on debut. He didn’t last much longer, however, falling to Brandon Glover for 56 in 79 balls (5x4s, 1x6) when he top-edged a pull straight up in the air for wicketkeeper Scott Edwards to pouch.
That wicket fell in the 29th over and the Proteas’ innings, which had looked set for a total of about 300 at one point, went into a slump. David Miller struck a six but looked out of sorts, falling to a catch in the outfield to a mistimed drive.
Khaya Zondo was bowled cutting at a full delivery from Roelof van der Merwe and then Verreynne, who became somewhat becalmed as he approached his 100, pulled a slow full toss from Vivian Kingma to deep square leg when five short of the mark. His 95 came in 112 balls and included nine fours and a six.
Wayne Parnell soon followed him but the innings was rescued at the death as the Netherlands bowlers lost their earlier control, enabling Phehlukwayo and Maharaj to blast 68 runs off 38 deliveries.
Their late charge took the shine off the bowlers’ figures, but Klaassen (2/45) and Kingma (2/49) impressed among the seamers while Van der Merwe flighted the ball well and was well worth his figures of 1-27 off six overs.
SOUTH AFRICA: Janneman Malan, Reeza Hendricks, Zubayr Hamza, Kyle Verreynne (wk), David Miller, Khaya Zondo, Wayne Parnell, Andile Phehlukwayo, Keshav Maharaj (capt), Sisanda Magala, Tabraiz Shamsi
NETHERLANDS: Stephan Myburgh, Max ODowd, Scott Edwards (wk), Colin Ackermann, Bas de Leede, Pieter Seelaar (capt), Roelof van der Merwe, Timm van der Gugten, Fred Klaassen, Vivian Kingma, Brandon Glover