DHARAMSALA: With five South African-born players in his squad, Netherlands coach Ryan Cook believes having the inside track on their rivals could spark another World Cup humiliation for the Proteas in Dharamsala on Tuesday.The Dutch famously defeated Temba Bavuma’s side at the Twenty20 World Cup in Australia last year with South Africa-born Colin Ackermann hitting a match-winning 41.

Johannesburg native Roelof van der Merwe, one of only 16 men to have played international cricket for two countries, then took a spectacular running catch to send back dangerman David Miller.

“We know a lot of the players personally and professionally as well,” said Dutch coach Cook who also hails from South Africa.

“We have done a lot of work with them in different teams that we’ve been involved in so we get to know a little bit more about the players and what makes them tick.

“Obviously we’ll be using that to try and see if there’s any advantage that we can use.” Van der Merwe, now 38, appeared in 13 ODIs for South Africa between 2009 and 2010, playing alongside the likes of Dale Steyn and AB de Villiers before switching allegiance to the Dutch in 2019.

“I think Roelof’s energy out there speaks for itself,” said Cook. “He’s got a great passion for the game, he obviously gives his full hundred percent and wears his heart on his sleeve for the team that he’s playing for.

“I have no doubt that he’ll be out there tomorrow and putting his best foot forward and giving 100% to the team.”

The Dutch are the lowest-ranked side at the 10-nation World Cup. They have lost both matches so far to Pakistan and New Zealand. They had Pakistan struggling at 38-3 at one stage before they went on to lose by 81 runs. In the game with New Zealand, they fell short by

99 runs.

SA WON’T BE ARROGANT: BAVUMA

Meanwhile, South African captain Temba Bavuma insists his team cannot afford to be “arrogant or loud” on Tuesday, wary of the shock defeat they suffered against the Dutch at the World T20.

South Africa are on a high at this tournament, piling up runs and coasting to comfortable wins over Sri Lanka and five-time champions Australia.

However, memories of the 13-run loss to the Dutch in Adelaide at the T20 showpiece in November 2022, when the Proteas failed to chase down a modest 158, are still raw.

Eight of the South African team who played in that game are likely to feature on Tuesday.

Bavuma was determined on Monday to stress that his team should be the stronger in the longer 50-over format.

“We definitely won’t be taking them lightly. There was a T20 World Cup last year, a 50-over World Cup now,” said the captain. “Different format, different ask in terms of your skills, being able to do your skills for a longer period of time. So, I think that’s something that I think we all need to appreciate.”

In one-day clashes, South Africa enjoy a convincing 6-0 winning record.

Two of those wins — by eight wickets in Benoni and 146 runs at Johannesburg -- earlier this year assured South Africa of a spot at the World Cup. Those results took the Dutch into the qualifying tournament instead.

“We played them in South Africa and our victories there were emphatic,” added Bavuma.

“I think in terms of the confidence and belief within the team without us being arrogant or loud about it I think it’s still up there. We still respect opposition, not just Netherlands, but any opposition.”

Published in Dawn, October 17th, 2023