Amakhosi coach has analysed Bucs
But mostly, the Sea Robbers have made up for their defensive frailties by their potent attack, and Middendorp says Chiefs are aware of those issues.
“We analysed their attacking organisations and go on how they do the transitions,” he said.
“We also looked at the defensive organisations and their weakest points.
“I am quite sure that with the quality that we have in our attacking players, a certain player and at a certain time will explode. But this will be a game that will be decided on the (finest of) details.”
It’s been merely two months since Middendorp returned to Amakhosi’s hot seat having occupied it before from 2005-2007.
Their title aspirations might not have been of primary concern as he had to revive a team who were at their lowest ebb during the tutelage of Giovanni Solinas.
However, the 60-year-old coach has already won the hearts of the Amakhosi faithful with the promotion of Happy Mashiane. Not only has Mashiane been roped into the first team but he’s been impressive in the back-to-back matches that he’s played in just three weeks.
Middendorp has ensured that if they feel he’s ready for the derby, they’ll throw him in at the deep end without a worry.
“I observed him and how far is he in terms of handling pressure moments and for me he looks strong, mentally prepared,” Middendorp concluded yesterday. SOUTH Africa emerged from a few tight spots in the T20 series against Pakistan still breathing and ultimately triumphant.
That is something, as the Proteas stand-in captain Dave Miller mentioned on Wednesday night, from which the players could draw confidence. And Miller went on to reiterate that it wasn’t just the players who took to the field, but everyone involved with South African cricket.
“Every series win is a milestone, and this one against the No 1 T20 team in the world is a huge one,” said Miller. “There were two guys (Lutho Sipamla and Janneman Malan) who played their first games at the weekend and showed a huge amount of class.”
Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur acknowledged that South Africa recognised the important moments quicker and played them better. “The white ball series’ were very close and could have gone either way, it was close in the One-dayers and T20s, South Africa just played the crunch moments better,” said Arthur.
At Newlands there was a partnership between Faf du Plessis and Reeza Hendricks, before Chris Morris finished the tourists in the final over with the ball, at the Wanderers two last over performances – one from Miller with the bat, the other from Andile Phehlukwayo with the ball – gave South Africa the series win, and at Centurion, Pakistan’s dominance of the Power Play saw them emerge victorious.
Some South African players advanced their cases for World
Cup inclusion. Beuran Hendricks’ career-best 4/14 must put him in the conversation for the spare fast bowling spot. As a left-arm seamer he provides a different angle and his form and fitness have been good in the last 18 months.
Chris Morris, not always trusted by the side’s hierarchy, produced with both ball – at Newlands and the Wanderers – and bat – at Supersport Park where he scored 55 off 29 balls – to show the kind of explosiveness that a World Cup squad might find useful.