When batting is as easy as AB, see
There’s good news and bad news that South Africa’s AB de Villiers will play just two more innings on this New Zealand cricket tour.
Good for the wounded Black Caps who won’t have to bowl to him in the three tests, as he takes a break to try and prolong his career till the 2019 World Cup. Also, bad for the host side and New Zealand fans, young and old, who won’t be treated to a prolonged batting education through till the end of March.
For any cricket enthusiast there’s been something to savour in just four de Villiers knocks this tour, the latest moving him to 9000 ODI runs in just 205 innings at the mind-boggling average of 54.04. Of the 18 to reach 9000, India’s Sourav Ganguly was next fastest to that mark in 228 innings, followed by two fair players named Tendulkar (235) and Lara (239).
The skipper, who will hand over the reins to Faf du Plessis after next Saturday’s fifth and final ODI, was named man of the match for his knock of 85 off 80 balls which led South Africa to 271-9 which looked about a par total in game three at Westpac Stadium.
Apparently it was near unplayable out there, which made de Villiers’ knock and that of opener Quinton de Kock (68 off 70 balls) near superhuman. The Black Caps batsmen could barely get from one end to the other in their 12th lowest total and lowest against South Africa of 112, with Colin de Grandhomme’s 34 not out the top score in New Zealand’s 159-run defeat.
‘‘I didn’t expect it to do that much. I felt it was a really difficult wicket to play on, I never felt in,’’ de Villiers said.
‘‘A guy like de Grandhomme moved it all over the place, which helped us because we had two bowlers who could do the same [Andile Phehlukwayo and Dwaine Pretorius]. I don’t think it did more in the second innings, we just did well, caught our catches and created more chances.’’
After his matchwinning 37 not out in Hamilton, de Villiers was dismissed for 45 by a slower Trent Boult bouncer in Christchurch which hastened New Zealand’s victory. In Wellington he batted till the final over before being caught on the boundary. De Grandhomme produced one gem that made de Villiers look a mere mortal but even he couldn’t lay bat on it.
De Villiers’ opposite number Kane Williamson could only watch and marvel, through gritted teeth.
‘‘He’s a terrific cricketer, extremely skilful and the way he plays his cricket is something you admire. He looks to take the game away from the opposition all the time and always playing for the right reasons to win games for his country as opposed to his own stats,’’ Williamson said.
‘‘When you play people like that – and there’s not too many – that have the skill and attitude then they’re a big threat. He’s a good player and sometimes you tip your hat to a good knock and he played very well.’’
So how do they get him out in Hamilton and Auckland, as New Zealand try to haul themselves up from 2-1 down and such a dire batting collapse.
Coach Mike Hesson said the video analysis with de Villiers always took longer as they seek any sign of weakness.
‘‘AB is a high quality player and whenever you get a false shot out of him that’s a bit of a win. Certainly he showed how good he was. He soaked up quite a lot of pressure through the middle and created a bit of a strike rate at the end,’’ Hesson said.
‘‘We’ve tried a few different things and found something in Christchurch that worked. We’ll have to find something else in Hamilton.’’