South Africa beat Netherlands by six runs

South Africa survived a mighty scare before their bowlers brought the turnaround to pull off a narrow six-run victory over minnows the Netherlands in their World Twenty20 match here today.

Put into bat, South Africa suffered a batting collapse after a strong start to post a modest 145 for nine as paceman Ahsan Malik Jamil recorded career-best figures of five for 19.

The Proteas were on course for an embarrassing defeat before the inexperienced Dutchmen left them off the hook in the Super 10 Group 1 match at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.

The Netherlands were seemed cruising at 116 for four in the 13th over, thanks to a brilliant innings of 28-ball 51 from opener Stephan Myburgh, needing just 40 runs from more than seven overs with six wickets in hand.

But, they lost way after that and their six batsmen fell for just 20 runs to be all out for 139 in 18.4 overs.

Ben Copper (5), Tom Copper (16), Pieter Seelaar (2), Logan van Beek (1), Timm van der Gugten (8) and Mudassar Bukhari (11) could not apply themselves and take their side to what could have been the biggest upset of the tournament so far.

Leg-spinner Imran Tahir was the pick of South African bowlers with four wickets for 21 runs while fast bowler Dale Steyn chipped in with two wickets. Beuran Hendricks, Lonwabo Tsotsobe and J P Duminy took a wicket apiece.

With today's result, South Africa are on four points from two wins and a loss and remain in the race for a place in the semifinals. They had lost to Sri Lanka in their campaign opener bit had bounced back with a win over New Zealand.

The Netherlands, on the other hand, are yet to open their account. They had lost to Sri Lanka in their opening match, in which they could score just 39, the lowest ever Twenty20 International innings total. 

Earlier, pacer Malik Jamil grabbed five wickets in a brilliant pace bowling show to restrict South Africa to 145 for nine.

Jamil (5/19) orchestrated a batting collapse of the South Africans after they were placed at a strong position in the first half of their innings.

Opener Hashim Amla, who was often criticised for his slow batting in the slam-bang format, top-scored for South Africa with a 22-ball 43 which he made with the help of seven fours and a six.

The South Africans suffered an early jolt with opener Quinton de Kock dismissed for nought in the fifth ball of the innings but recovered to place themselves at a strong position by reaching 84 for three in the ninth over.

But once A B de Villiers (21) was out in the first ball of the 11th over, the South African batsmen failed to build partnerships against an inexperienced Dutch bowling attack.

The Proteas lost wickets in quick succession as they could score 145 for nine in their allotted 20 overs.

They were 92 for three at the halfway mark but could add 53 runs in the last 10 overs for the loss of six wickets.