BRITS CENTURY SEES SOUTH AFRICA KEEP PRESSURE ON INDIA AND AUSTRALIA
Media release
- Brits crashes 114 not out as South Africa post 208 for one
- Netherlands start chase promisingly with 58-run opening stand
- Dutch lose seven wickets for 20 runs as Ayabonga Khaka takes three in final over
Tazmin Brits hit her first T20I century as South Africa beat the Netherlands by 88 runs to join India on six points in the Group A semi-final race.
Brits put on a 121-run opening stand with Laura Wolvaardt before powering to her maiden hundred as South Africa set the Netherlands 209 to win.
The Dutch put up a fight, with Phebe Molkenboer anchoring the chase as she made 41, but could not stop a crucial big win for the Proteas who sit behind India on net run rate with Bangladesh left to play.
BRITS’ FIRST T20 TON SEES PROTEAS TO MAMMOTH SCORE
The Netherlands chose to put the unchanged South Africa into bat as Tazmin Brits opened up with Laura Wolvaardt, who was going through a dry spell by her lofty standards.
Having made 72 runs from three games in the tournament, she and Brits put on a 121-run stand for the first wicket.
The Netherlands had their chances, as Frederique Overdijk dropped Brits for 46 off the bowling of Caroline de Lange.
The spinner’s over, the ninth of the innings, went for just two runs, the only one to go for less than a run a ball, as the team in fiery orange toiled in the heat.
Brits’ fifty came up off 36 balls, adding to the 40 runs she made against India following her return to the team.
The opener continued to motor until both she and Wolvaardt were almost run out with Brits ball watching.
The Netherlands eventually got the wicket they craved as Wolvaardt fell five runs short of her first half-century of the tournament as she was caught behind by Babette de Leede off the bowling of Hannah Landheer.
Brits’ new batting partner Annerie Dercksen understood her assignment perfectly, feeding Brits the strike as she pushed South Africa past 150.
Then came her first century in T20 internationals, bringing it up with a huge six as she reached the feat off 63 balls.
She and Dercksen then accelerated even further as the tournament passed 77 sixes, a new record, with Dercksen crashing 37 not out off 16, as Brits ended on 114 not out from 69. South Africa 208 for one.
BRAVE DUTCH PUT UP A FIGHT
Chasing a world record 209, Phebe Molkenboer looked unnerved, taking the great Shabnim Ismail for three fours in a row off the pacer’s first over.
Marizanne Kapp, chasing her 100th T20I wicket, saw an opportunity for a century of her own go begging as Chloe Tryon dropped Sanya Khurana, opening for the first time, in the slips on three.
Khurana then hit Ayabonga Khaka for three boundaries in an over as the Dutch showed courageous fight.
The same thing happened again to end the powerplay, with Ismail as Khurana’s next victim as the Netherlands reached the end of the sixth over at 50 without loss.
Ismail had the last laugh as she took the catch to dismiss Khurana for 36 from 22 balls as Tryon got her 50thwicket in T20Is.
Sterre Kalis then took on the majority of the scoring as the run rate slowed, even as South Africa were unable to break the partnerships easily.
Kalis (26) had to go after a great diving catch by Sinalo Jafta off the bowling of Ismail as the Netherlands moved to 100 for two.
Molkenboer eventually departed for a run-a-ball 41, run out by Dane van Niekerk, before Robine Rijke went three balls later for one as the Netherlands stuttered.
Khaka picked up three wickets in the final over as the Dutch resistance finally gave way as they ended 89 runs short.
Scores in brief
South Africa v Netherlands – Bristol County Ground, Bristol
South Africa: 208/1 in 20 overs (Tazmin Brits 114 not out, Laura Wolvaardt 45; Hannah Landheer 1/34)
Netherlands: 120/8 in 20 overs (Phebe Molkenboer 41, Sanya Khurana 36; Ayabonga Khaka 3/19, Chloe Tryon 2/16)
Result: South Africa win by 88 runs