ADELAIDE: 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 the Sunday’s tripleheader of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

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.