Proteas bracing for strong response from Aussies

SOUTH African seamer Andile Phehlukwayo isn’t buying the talk of Australia’s one-day cricket demise.

Phehlukwayo, pictured, and his teammates are bracing for a robust response from the Australians to their six-wicket hammering in the one-day se- ries opener in Perth. “Any unit, any team, goes through bad patches,” Phehlukwayo told reporters yesterday, ahead of game two tomorrow at Adelaide Oval.

“I think it’s just a stage ... Australia is probably a really good unit, their cricket culture is really good. I don’t take anything from it ... they will come back strong.”

Phehlukwayo was the unheralded chief destroyer of Australia’s batting in Perth, where the hosts crumbled to 152 all out.

The medium pacer took 3-33, taking three consecutive wickets in three consecutive overs on a juicy Perth pitch.

“With the assistance of the wicket, the frontline seamers did well to put pressure on the top order batters ... I was lucky,” Phehlukwayo said.

The 22-year-old deflected any credit to Proteas pacemen Dale Steyn, Lungi Ngidi and Kagiso Rabada, saying he was privileged to bowl with such talent.

“If I look around and you’re looking at Steyn, you’re looking at Rabada ... they force you to be at the level they’re at,” he said.