South Africa had been fully expected to seal its place in the final four in Australia as it met the Netherlands at the Adelaide Oval on the last day of the group stage.

But the Dutch refused to read the script, Colin Ackermann blasting 41 off 26 balls as the Netherlands stunned the heavily fancied Proteas by 13 runs.

South Africa had been touted as a dark horse for the title, but instead the team extended its wretched run in white-ball World Cups and saw Mark Boucher's reign as coach end in bitter disappointment.

The Dutch finished a heady fourth in Group 2 and so will not need to go through qualifying for the next World Cup.

"The fact that we now have an opportunity to just walk straight in, I think it's a good confidence booster and very good for Dutch cricket," said bowler Brandon Glover, who took 3-9 against shell-shocked South Africa.

The Dutch delight changed the complexion of Group 2.

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