With the final automatic World Cup spot at stake, the Netherlands and specifically Roelof van der Merwe are very much on the minds of the Proteas even as they face the West Indies.
Not so long ago that wouldn’t have been the case, but then came that fateful disintegration at the Adelaide Oval last November which cost Temba Bavuma’s team a spot in the semifinal of the T20 World Cup. Complacency led to an embarrassing defeat — the first suffered by a South African team against the Dutch.
It is a mistake they dare not repeat next week. The two matches against the Dutch are the completion of a series that was supposed to be played in November 2021 but was interrupted after the rained-out first match, when the series was abandoned because of the outbreak of the Omicron strain of the Covid-19 virus.
Theoretically the West Indies, Sri Lanka and South Africa are all challenging for that final automatic qualifying berth. Howeve, the West Indies can no longer add to their 88 points on the Super League log and must hope that the Sri Lankans on 77 and Proteas on 78 earn no points from their remaining matches. Ten points are earned with a win.
Sri Lanka face New Zealand in three ODIs from next Saturday, where a series sweep for the Sri Lankans will ensure they qualify for the World Cup. South Africa needs them to lose at least one match and then Bavuma’s side must beat the Dutch in the two ODIs that will be played at Willowmoore Park on March 28 and the Wanderers on April 2.
Cricket SA has shown the seriousness with which it regards the Dutch challenge by ensuring all the country’s stars — including those with IPL contracts — are available for the two matches.
Rob Walter, the Proteas’ new ODI coach, will also have noted how the Netherlands put the squeeze on an off-colour South African team in Adelaide and close attention will have to be paid to Van der Merwe, once of the Proteas parish but who relished his role in their downfall last year. It was Van der Merwe’s superb diving catch to get rid of David Miller in that match that was one of the final nails in the Proteas coffin.
He is someone we will make sure we do our planning and prepping against
— Duminy
“Roelof van der Merwe has been phenomenal in the last few weeks, including the SA20,” said Proteas new ODI batting coach JP Duminy.
Van der Merwe, 38, played an influential role in turning around the fortunes of the Sunrisers Eastern Cape side, who went from the bottom of the log to winning the inaugural SA20, with Van der Merwe, who’d missed the first few matches, finishing as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker.
“He is someone we will make sure we do our planning and prepping against,” said Duminy.
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