Myburgh almost did it for Dutch again

Dutch opener Stephan Myburgh gave his side a real chance to pull off the biggest upset in the ICC World T20 with a hurricane 51 off 28 balls. Photo: Anurup Kanti Das

If there was an award for the team most responsible for riveting the nerves and toying with the pundits' predictions in this World Twenty20, then Netherlands would have won it by now. From a record-breaking win, followed by a record-breaking defeat, to almost sending South Africa home -- there's a pulsating graph which would have caused a few heart-attacks!
Going into yesterday's game, South Africa were looking forward to settling their jittery batting line-up. Little did they know though that the Dutch had made their own plans of exposing that weakness, as a well-composed 5 for 19 from Ahsan Malik, restricted the mighty Proteas to just 145 for 9.
While South Africa did eventually reach home by six runs, it was the men in Orange that won Chittagonian hearts at the Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.
The protagonist in Holland's chase was the same as that of the Ireland game. Stephan Myburgh got them off to a flier. Myburgh took a special liking of Lonwabo Tsotsobe, whom he hammered for 32 runs, in boundaries, in two overs.
The highlight of his innings was a slog-like pull off Tsotsobe in the fifth over, which went high over the fine-leg boundary. His frenetic start helped the Dutch post 63 off the first six overs, in which his contribution was 49. He even punished the dangerous Dale Steyn in the Powerplay, pulling and slapping for boundaries, as though it was just another day on the field for him.
His wicket in the eighth over, bowled by JP Duminy, however, turned the game around. At that point they were 80 for 2 and required just another 66 runs in 12 overs. However, the likes of Steyn and Imran Tahir proved to be too good and in the next six overs they lost five wickets.

South Africa pace bowler Beuran Hendricks runs for joy in a way as if they have won a World Cup. Hendricks was actually celebrating the fall of the Netherlands' last wicket that saved the Proteas from an embarrassing defeat. Photo: Anurup Kanti Das

With two wickets in hand they needed 14 off the last three; Holland crumbled under pressure. The fairytale dream officially ended with Tim Gugten getting caught behind with six balls remaining.
Earlier, the Proteas seemed to be on a self-destructive mode, with most of their batsmen throwing their wickets. Hashim Amla, seemingly asked by the team management to adapt a more aggressive approach, shifted gears early in the game by hammering off-spinner Michael Swart for four fours and a six in the third over. His aggressive stance however, led to his downfall in the fifth over when he got caught behind off a length delivery off Malik.
Amla's end began South Africa's troubles as they were pegged back by quick wickets. At the end of the eleventh, South Africa suddenly found themselves at a jittery 94 for 4 with Albie Morkel and Duminy, their last two batsmen at the crease.
With the crowd cheering for the underdogs, the pressure seemed to have had gotten to the batsmen as South Africa lost their next five wickets for just 53 runs.
With South Africa struggling at 120 for 6 after 16, Malik was brought back to apply more pressure. He removed Steyn, David Miller and Beuran Hendricks in successive overs to stamp Holland's authority in the innings.