Netherlands captain Peter Borren was a disappointed man after they completed a hat-trick of losses in the ongoing World Cup as South Africa comfortably won by 231 runs.
"You can't bat like that. It's pretty disappointing. We have let ourselves down once again," the Dutch skipper said at the post-match press conference. On Monday, the Dutch lost by a whopping 215-run margin against the West Indies.
The only consolation for the Dutch so far has been a closely contested game against England in the opener. "The pressure of batting second has had a telling effect on us. I think we deserved to have taken a few wickets after bowling really well for nearly 38-40 overs.
If you can't take wickets after creating pressure, it is going to hurt us," Borren analysed. Dutch wicketkeeper Wesley Barresi top scored with 44 as rest of the batsmen including Borren (3) failed to make impact, with the team getting bowled out for 120 in the 35th over. South African seamers dealt the blow at the top while Proteas' Pakistani-import, leg spinner Imran Tahir wrapped up the tail.
Borren admitted that knocks of quality players like AB de Villers (134 of 98 balls) and Hashim Amla (113), who were involved in a 221-run stand for the third wicket, had cost them heavily.
"Both of them are magnificent players. They (SA) got well over 100 in the last few overs. Amla and De Villiers played well even when our bowling was good. If you don't get their wickets, you are going to hurt yourself," he said. Borren, feels that they bowled well barring the last 10 overs of the South African innings. He justified his decision having asked the Proteas to make first use of the strip.
{{/usCountry}}"Both of them are magnificent players. They (SA) got well over 100 in the last few overs. Amla and De Villiers played well even when our bowling was good. If you don't get their wickets, you are going to hurt yourself," he said. Borren, feels that they bowled well barring the last 10 overs of the South African innings. He justified his decision having asked the Proteas to make first use of the strip.
{{/usCountry}}"There had been rains last night and there was some assistance. I think there was chance for us to get wickets. Conditions were conducive. I don't regret the decision, but what I regret is that we failed to take wickets," he said. The skipper said that chasing 350 plus score was always going to be a challenge, but the batsmen had failed to give team the chance to be in the race.
"You have to give yourself a bit of a chance, but before the batsmen could up the tempo, we kept losing wickets at regular intervals," he said. On playing against India, he said they are a magnificent team, with a formidable batting line-up. "It's going to be real challenge for us," he said, adding that he feels his team has the potential. "We are really looking forward to playing against India," he added. Prior to today's match, South Africa and Netherlands had met twice, with the former winning on both occasions.