ADELAIDE: Netherlands put Pakistan back in the race for the semifinals after the Dutch side pulled out yet another upset of the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 as they beat South Africa by 13 runs in the Super 12s Group 2 match here on Sunday.

The costly defeat crashed South Africa out of the tournament with Pakistan and Bangladesh will now be in contention to book a place in the final four as the two teams compete in today’s second fixture.

Set to chase 159, South Africa remained short of the target after a sensational bowling display by the Netherlands to restrict Proteas to 145/8 in the allotted 20 overs.

Dutch pacer Brandon Glover struck two wickets in an over as he dismissed David Miller (17 off 17) and Wayne Parnell on a duck in the 16th over to derail the South African chase.

Proteas’ unimpressive batting put them on a back seat throughout the innings as none of their batters failed to make it into the 30s. Rilee Rossouw top-scored for the side with his 25 off 19 while Heinrich Klaasen contributed 21 off 18.

For the Netherlands, Glover was the pick of the bowlers as he returned inspirational figures of 3/9 in his two overs while Fred Klaassen and Bas de Leede grabbed two wickets each. Medium pacer Paul van Meekeren also had a scalp to his credit.

Earlier, Netherlands batters Tom Cooper and Colin Ackerman’s vital knocks bolstered their side to a competitive total of 158/4 in the first innings of the first fixture of Sunday’s tripleheader.

Batting first on the invitation of South African captain Temba Bavuma, Netherlands managed to amass 158/4, thanks to the blistering knocks of Cooper and Ackerman.

The Dutch side got off to a steady start as the openers – Stephan Myburgh (37) and Max O’ Dowd (29) – added 58 runs for the first wicket.

Myburgh scored 37 off just 30 deliveries before falling prey to Aiden Markram in the ninth over, while O’Dowd played a cautious knock of 29 off 31 balls.

Cooper then raced up the proceedings for the Netherlands with a quickfire cameo of 35 in just 19 balls, laced with two boundaries and two sixes before Keshav Maharaj got him caught behind in the 15th over.

Ackerman, however, held his ground firmly and ticked the scoreboard ticking at a decent pace with his quickfire knock of 41 in mere 26 deliveries with the help of three boundaries and two sixes.

For South Africa, Maharaj bagged two wickets, while Anrich Nortje and Markram struck out a batter each.