SA seek to achieve 2-1 tour score
CAPE TOWN: The last time India’s Chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav bowled here at Newlands, in the third ODI earlier this month, the hosts had trouble picking his bowling due to an external factor. The setting sun behind the Wynberg end didn’t allow them to pick ball from the wrist-spinner’s hand due to the glare.
South Africa batsman Farhaan Behardien revealed this as he explained that the hosts haven’t always struggled to pick the spinners. While there has been talk of how they haven’t been reading the spinners off their hands but only off the pitch, Behardien’s explanation shows their approach has been right at least from the third ODI.
“I am not sure if we struggled to pick him. His pace has been good and he has bowled a bit slower. Not many bowlers in our country bowl that slow,” said Behardien. “He was on the ascendancy with his form. But our batsmen have a different mindset going into T20 cricket. We have a fairly young team and lot of guys have played some fairly fearless cricket through the summer and will not carry that baggage from one-day cricket.”
The South Africa middle order batsman said that the par score at Newlands will come down from what it was at Highveld -- Johannesburg and Centurion.
“In the Highveld, the ball flies and can go for six much more easily. Here, we have to be slightly smart as the ball doesn’t travel that far. Maybe the twos become important. Some of the shots that go for six at Highveld can be caught at the boundary here. But the wicket will be as good.
“The last time we played here, we made 170 and Sri Lanka chased it. We had a few dropped catches, the wind was swirling a bit. I reckon between 160 and 180 will be the ideal score. The ball might swing a bit as it is a 6 ‘o clock start. There could be some shape on offer. 160 is a very competitive score.
Behardien admitted the absence of top players affected the team. South Africa nets have looked funny at times with coach Ottis Gibson bowling leg-spin and Justin Ontong, another member of coaching staff, bowling sidearm to copy Kedar Jadhav.
“We had a few broken fingers. It is tough. I don’t think you can plan for that. It is just one of those things, you go through crests and troughs. But it is nice to see youngsters put their hand up.
“We train for hours. Practice has not been the issue. Just that we have come up against a very good Indian side, in top form with us missing three of our premier batsmen. The coaches have been providing us with the environment to flourish.”
We have had a few broken fingers. It is tough. I don’t think you can plan for that. It is just one of those things, you go through crests and troughs. FARHAAN BEHARDIEN, On injuries to key players