South Africa slams Holland-World Cup’07

Records tumbled all around in the match between South Africa and Holland on the 16 of March at St. Kitts. The match was curtailed to a 40 over match with South Africa batting first. Although the Dutch tasted success initially, it was just the beginning of their miseries as the South African batsmen made mince meat of some slow medium pace Dutch bowling.

The day belonged to Gibbs who hammered Daan Van Bunge for six sixes in an over thereby setting a World record. His innings was punctuated by 4 fours and 7 sixes. Next to follow was Mark Boucher who pounded the Dutch bowling and reached the fastest fifty in a World Cup by reaching his half century in just 21 balls. Having set the stage on fire, how could someone like Kallis and smith miss out?! They too hammered the Dutch with Kallis scoring a patient 128 runs while Smith scored 67.

In reply the Holland team was shot out for mere 132 runs with only Doeschate reaching a half century. The rest of the batting scorecard appeared like some telephone number! It was a one sided affair and probably the Dutch knew what was coming their way. But the extent and magnitude of damage caused by the Proteas was something that might not occurred to the Holland team.

The story for the Dutch team does not end here as they face a similar opposition in the form of the Australian side whom they face in their next match. If one goes by the saying that ‘Lightning does not strike twice’ then probable the Dutch can feel a bit relieved but from a team like Australia, the least they can expect is-‘bull in a china shop treatment’!