South Africa and Netherlands ODI series could be abandoned over new COVID-19 concerns

Worries
about
an
emerging
strand
of
the
coronavirus
have
caused
a
number
of
countries,
including
the
Netherlands,
to
halt
incoming
flights
from
South
Africa.

The
Dutch
cricket
board
–
the
KNCB
–
has
held
discussions
with
Cricket
South
Africa
(CSA)
about
prospects
for
the
scheduled
second
and
third
matches
in
their
series
going
ahead
on
Sunday
and
Wednesday,
promising
a
swift
decision.

With
Johannesburg,
Pretoria
among
venues,
concerns
about
India’s
tour
of
SA
amid
new
COVID
variant’s
rise

The
first
game
at
SuperSport
Park
in
Centurion
fell
victim
to
the
weather
on
Friday,
with
South
Africa
totting
up
277-8
before
Netherlands
were
halted
at
11-0
in
their
reply
as
rain
fell.

Centurion
is
located
in
Gauteng
Province,
which
is
where
a
large
proportion
of
cases
of
the
new
COVID-19
strand
have
been
detected.
SuperSport
Park
is
also
due
to
stage
the
second
and
third
games
in
the
series.

In
a
joint
statement,
both
boards
said:
“Cricket
South
Africa
and
Koninklijke
Nederlandse
Cricket
Bond
are
aware
of
news
reports
doing
the
rounds
regarding
the
Netherlands
tour
to
South
Africa
being
cancelled
or
postponed.

“Both
boards
can
confirm
that
following
updated
information,
it
is
highly
unlikely
that
the
visiting
team
will
be
able
to
fly
out
of
South
Africa
before
their
scheduled
flight.
The
KNCB
is
reviewing
all
of
its
options,
while
prioritising
the
physical
and
mental
well-being
of
its
players.

“A
decision
on
the
continuation
of
the
series
will
follow
in
the
next
24
to
48
hours,
while
all
flight
options
are
being
considered.”

Kyle
Verreynne
anchored
South
Africa’s
innings
in
the
opening
ODI,
coming
in
at
24-2
and
going
on
to
make
95
from
112
deliveries.

Janneman
Malan
(16)
and
Reeza
Hendricks
(6)
faltered
at
the
top
of
the
order
as
both
fell
to
Fred
Klaassen
(2-45),
but
Verreynne
and
Zubayr
Hamza
(56)
put
on
119
for
the
third
wicket.

Lungi
Ngidi
tests
positive
for
Covid-19,
withdrawn
from
SA’s
ODI
series
against
Netherlands

A
top-edged
pull
from
Hamza
off
Brandon
Glover
saw
Scott
Edwards
take
an
easy
catch
to
break
up
that
alliance,
and
Verreynne
was
one
big
hit
away
from
a
maiden
international
century
when
he
flogged
a
full
toss
from
Vivian
Kingma
to
Bas
de
Leede
on
the
deep
square
leg
boundary.

Andile
Phehlukwayo
flayed
the
Dutch
attack
for
48
from
22
balls,
hitting
six
sixes
before
Glover
improved
his
expensive
figures
slightly
to
2-70
by
bowling
the
all-rounder
with
the
final
ball
of
the
innings.