Watch: Roelof van der Merwe bowled Temba Bavuma to continue a stunning all-round performance against South Africa, leaving them 39-2 in the powerplay of their pursuit of 246 in a rain-affected 2023 World Cup game.
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Van der Merwe had already scored 29 off 19 balls in Netherlands’ innings, combining with Scott Edwards to put on 64 off 37 balls for the eighth wicket. He came onto bowl in the final over of the powerplay, with South Africa already having lost Quinton de Kock, and struck immediately.
He bowled his first ball to Bavuma on a length and pitching on off stump. It was angled in to the right-hander and held its line. Bavuma was caught on the crease attempting to play a forward defence, but the ball went straight through the gap between his bat and pad and crashed into leg-stump uprooting it from the ground.
Van der Merwe roared in celebration with his eyes wide at getting the South Africa captain. The blow has a double meaning for Van der Merwe, who represented South Africa 26 times in 2009 and 2010. He subsequently qualified to play for the Netherlands and has represented them since 2015.
Following the loss of Bavuma, South Africa then slipped to 44-4 in pursuit of 246. Van der Merwe struck again in his following over to get Rassie van der Dussen out for four.
The Netherlands are looking for their second victory over South Africa in less than 12 months, after they beat the Proteas in last year’s T20 World Cup and put them out of the tournament as a result. Their last win in a men’s ODI World Cup came against Scotland in 2007, which was their second win in the competition’s history.
Watch: Roelof van der Merwe bowls Temba Bavuma below
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