BENONI: Captain Temba Bavuma scored an unbeaten 90 to steer South Africa to an easy eight-wicket win over the Netherlands in their One Day International on Friday and bring his side one step closer to automatic World Cup qualification.
Bavuma’s tally came from 79 balls as South Africa scored 190-2 in response to the Dutch tally of 189.
Aiden Markram contributed 51 points in an unbeaten 102-point partnership with Bavuma to lead South Africa to victory with 20 overs remaining.
The Dutch were batted on an unusually cold day on the Highveld and, with the altitude helping them, got off to a good start with 58 runs from 66 balls before losing their first wicket.
But the dismissal of Max O’Dowd, as he edged Sisanda Magala to Quinton de Kock, cut the momentum and the Dutch were never able to rekindle a profitable partnership.
Fly-half Vikramjit Singh hit an impressive six in his innings of 45 carries on 53 balls while Teja Nidamanuru, at No. 6, scored the most for the tourists with 48.
Spinner Tabraiz Shamsi took 3-25, backed by couturier Magala with 3-37 as the Dutch were knocked out in 46.1 overs.
The win lifted South Africa, who have 10 points, to ninth place in the World Cup Super League, which determines the eight automatic World Cup qualifiers in India later this year.
South Africa’s win means Sri Lanka will finish outside the top eight in the standings and will have to play a qualifier in Zimbabwe in June, where two more World Cup berths are on offer.
If South Africa win their last qualifying ODI against the Dutch at Wanderers on Sunday, then West Indies will also drop out of the top eight and be forced into the qualifying tournament.
Only Ireland will then have a chance of automatic qualification but will need three emphatic wins over Bangladesh when they host them in Chelmsford in May to finish ahead of South Africa in the Super League table.
Bavuma’s tally came from 79 balls as South Africa scored 190-2 in response to the Dutch tally of 189.
Aiden Markram contributed 51 points in an unbeaten 102-point partnership with Bavuma to lead South Africa to victory with 20 overs remaining.
The Dutch were batted on an unusually cold day on the Highveld and, with the altitude helping them, got off to a good start with 58 runs from 66 balls before losing their first wicket.
But the dismissal of Max O’Dowd, as he edged Sisanda Magala to Quinton de Kock, cut the momentum and the Dutch were never able to rekindle a profitable partnership.
Fly-half Vikramjit Singh hit an impressive six in his innings of 45 carries on 53 balls while Teja Nidamanuru, at No. 6, scored the most for the tourists with 48.
Spinner Tabraiz Shamsi took 3-25, backed by couturier Magala with 3-37 as the Dutch were knocked out in 46.1 overs.
The win lifted South Africa, who have 10 points, to ninth place in the World Cup Super League, which determines the eight automatic World Cup qualifiers in India later this year.
South Africa’s win means Sri Lanka will finish outside the top eight in the standings and will have to play a qualifier in Zimbabwe in June, where two more World Cup berths are on offer.
If South Africa win their last qualifying ODI against the Dutch at Wanderers on Sunday, then West Indies will also drop out of the top eight and be forced into the qualifying tournament.
Only Ireland will then have a chance of automatic qualification but will need three emphatic wins over Bangladesh when they host them in Chelmsford in May to finish ahead of South Africa in the Super League table.
