It remains a mystery how the unsung Dutch cricket team South Africa could turn heads in the current World Cup tournament in India.
There are still no answers for how the Dutch beat the Proteas in the previous T20 World Cup tournament in Australia.
On Saturday in Lucknow, Sri Lanka brought the Dutch down to earth after their heroics against the Proteas when they won the showdown by five wickets.
But don’t think for a moment that the Dutch didn’t fight to the end.
They were in their innings after 21.2 overs with their backs against the wall at 91/5, but just like against the Proteas, the tail swung merrily again.
The 35-year-old brainy Sybrand Engelbrecht, who attended primary school in Johannesburg and obtained an MBA degree at the University of Stellenbosch, last played first-class cricket for seven seasons when he played for the Cape Cobras.
But he hasn’t lost any of his skills even though he only plays club cricket now.
He scored 70 runs (82 balls, 4×4, 1×6) and together with Logan van Beek with 59 runs (75 balls, 1×4, 1×6)) a new Dutch record of 130 runs for the seventh wicket set up.
Thanks to their fighting innings, the Netherlands scored a very respectable 262/10 in 49.4 overs. Dilshan Madushanka (4/49) and Kasun Rajitha (4/50) were Sri Lanka’s best bowlers.
Sri Lanka scored 263/5 in their innings with Sadeera Samarawickrama with 91 (107 balls, 7×4) and Pathun Nissanka (54) holding the fort.
Aryan Duff (3/44), Paul van Meekeren (1/39) and Colin Ackermann (1/39) tried to shore up, but the winning score was too small.
