Miller and Tristan Stubbs (33) got South Africa over the line chasing a modest total of 103 to win their second World Cup T20 match.

The Proteas won the toss and put Netherlands in to bat. The men in orange struggled to 32 for four in the first ten overs, thanks to spirited bowling performances by Marco Jansen and Ottneil Baartman.

South African-born Sybrand Engelbrecht top-scored for Netherlands with 40 from 45 balls on a surface where the next best among the top seven was 12.  They finally finished on 103 for 9 in the allotted 20 overs.

The Proteas started poorly with Quinton de Kock run out without facing a ball.  Reeza Hendricks was bowled by Logan van Beek with only three runs on the board.  Vivian Kingma took the scalp of Aidan Markam and left South Africa teetering at 3 for 3.  Stubbs and Klaassen attempted to steady the ship, but Klaassen, who had a spectacular IPL tournament, picked out Tim Pringle after attempting to pull off Kingma.

David Miller is no stranger getting South Africa out off tight situations and he was once again the team’s saving grace.  Both Miller and Stubbs batted cautiously and put on a match-winning 65-run stand for the fifth wicket, before Stubbs was caught by Logan van Beek off the bowling of Bas de Leede.  With South Africa needing 16 of 12, Miller and Jansen took care of business and managed to slay the Dutch dragon.  

South Africa will be in action again on Monday when they face Bangladesh.

OFM Sport/Ilse Smalberger