INTRIGUING T20 WORLD CUP CLASH AWAITS AS PROTEAS MEET 'BOGEY' TEAM, THE NETHERLANDS

Having this week got better acquainted with New York, where they play three matches of their ICC T20 World Cup campaign, the Proteas will be all focus on Saturday (16:30 SAST) for the second of those against their 'bogey' team, the Netherlands.

You don't need a long memory to recall that when these two teams met last, at the previous T20 World Cup in Australia, South Africa were eliminated - with the semi-finals in sight - after a 13-run loss.

Some 20 months later, Aidan Markram’s charges will get the opportunity to settle scores - and break the 1-1 deadlock between the two countries in T20 internationals. Eleven of the Proteas' 15-member squad for this T20 World Cup were in the squad last time around, seven of which played in that clash so they will be well-up for this fixture... and not want to join the likes of Pakistan and Ireland in suffering another upset.

Netherlands are under the mentorship of Ryan Cook, Sunrisers' fielding coach for both their Eastern Cape and Hyderabad franchises so will be well aware of the Proteas' strengths (and weaknesses), not least those of Markram, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Ottniel Baartman and Heinrich Klaasen who he has worked closely with in recent months.

Cook, though, does not have the expertise - both from SA20 and beating South Africa last time out - of Pretoria Capitals' Colin Ackermann (Player of the Match in that upset win) and Season 1 star Roelof van der Merwe to call on. That said, the Dutch have enough skill, nous and determination to dent the Proteas' campaign once again should they not be as sharp as they were against Sri Lanka. An intriguing Group D clash.

South Africa squad: Aiden Markram (captain - Sunrisers Eastern Cape), Ottniel Baartman (Sunrisers Eastern Cape), Gerald Coetzee (Joburg Super Kings), Quinton de Kock (Durban's Super Giants), Bjorn Fortuin (Paarl Royals), Reeza Hendricks (Joburg Super Kings), Marco Jansen (Sunrisers Eastern Cape), Heinrich Klaasen (Durban's Super Giants), Keshav Maharaj (Durban's Super Giants), David Miller (Paarl Royals), Anrich Nortje (Pretoria Capitals), Kagiso Rabada (MI Cape Town), Ryan Rickelton (MI Cape Town), Tabraiz Shamsi (Paarl Royals), Tristan Stubbs (Sunrisers Eastern Cape). Travelling reserves: Nandre Burger (Joburg Super Kings), Lungi Ngidi (Paarl Royals).

Netherlands squad: Scott Edwards (captain), Aryan Dutt, Bas de Leede, Daniel Doram, Fred Klaassen, Logan van Beek, Max O'Dowd, Michael Levitt, Paul van Meekeren, Sybrand Engelbrecht, Teja Nidamanuru, ⁠⁠Tim Pringle, Vikram Singh, Viv Kingma, Wesley Barresi. Travelling reserve: Kyle Klein

SOUTH AFRICA PLAYER TO WATCH

It's become clear in the first few matches at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium that the drop-in pitches being used there are bowler-friendly. As such it's the batters who will need to adapt most if they are build confidence ahead of the 'business end' of the tournament. Tristan Stubbs showed just that this year, first starring during another triumphant SA20 campaign for his Sunrisers Eastern Cape team before making significant contributions to Delhi Capitals' IPL 2024 season.

He hasn't yet translated that in Proteas colours but showed the required patience against Sri Lanka... and with time at the crease his explosive batting tends to come to the fore.

NETHERLANDS PLAYER TO WATCH

Considering three South Africans - head coach Ryan Cook and players Roelof van der Merwe and Colin Ackermann - played a significant role in their famous win over the Proteas at the 2022 T20 World Cup, you wouldn't bet against another looking to do the same this time around.

Step forward Sybrand Engelbrecht, the former South Africa Under-19 batter and star fielder. Now 35, Engelbrecht has had a storied career - on and off the field - since first coming to prominence at Malaysia. A surprise call-up to the Dutch team before last year's 50-over World Cup has afforded a late entry into senior international cricket and there wouldn't be much better than having his home country talking about what might have been.