South Africa suffered a 13-run defeat in Adelaide thanks to a crucial runs from Colin Ackermann and Tom Cooper and three wickets in two overs from Brandon Glover and have been eliminated from the T20 World Cup
Adelaide: Netherlands 158-4, South Africa 145-8 - Netherlands won by 13 runs
South Africa have suffered a surprise elimination from the 2022 T20 World Cup after losing to the Netherlands by 13 runs in their final group match.
The Proteas arrived in Adelaide in second position in group two and with qualification for the semi-finals completely in their control. However, valuable runs from Tom Cooper and Colin Ackermann and three wickets in two overs from Brandon Glover secured a shock victory for the Netherlands.
India have now qualified for the semi-finals regardless of what happens when they face Zimbabwe later on Sunday while for Pakistan and Bangladesh, playing in the second half of the double-header in Adelaide, their clash has become a winner takes all semi-final showdown.
For the Netherlands, meanwhile, the result means they leave Australia on a high after adding a second Super-12 victory to their earlier win over Zimbabwe.
Batting first, Stephan Myburgh and Max O'Dowd made a steady start for the Netherlands, sharing a 58-run opening stand off 51 balls before Cooper upped the ante with a 19-ball 35.
Colin Ackermann starred for the Netherlands [Sarah Reed/Getty Images]
Keshav Maharaj (2 for 27) made what felt like a crucial breakthrough in the 15th over, having Cooper caught behind by Quinton de Kock, but Ackermann picked up where he had left off, finishing unbeaten on 41 (26) to help his side close on 158 for 4.
Anrich Nortje proved hard to handle with the ball, taking 1 for 10 from his four overs, but Kagiso Rababa (0 for 37) and Lungi Ngidi (0 for 35) were both punished by the Dutch batters.
In reply, the Netherlands struck twice in the powerplay to unsettle South Africa, with Fred Klaassen accounting for de Kock (caught Scott Edwards) and Temba Bavuma falling to Paul van Meekeren. Both players were scoring at a run-a-ball.
Regular wickets proved to be a theme of South Africa's performance, with a 26-run partnership between David Miller and Aiden Markram their highest stand.
Glover (3 for 9), who picked up two wickets in South Africa's slump from 112 for 4 to 120 for 7, and Klaassen (2 for 20) were the chief trouble-makers with the ball while three economical overs from Ackermann (0 for 16) helped restrict South Africa to 145 for 8.