Phehlukwayo powers Proteas
Series level as all-rounder, with the steady Van der Dussen, enjoys a career-best day in Durban against Pakistan
THE PROTEAS wanted to be under the cosh.
They wanted to see what their middle-order could do, especially when required to dig them out of a hole. They also wanted to start and finish a game in Durban, without looking to the heavens for most of the day.
That they ticked all these boxes yesterday, in a five-wicket victory - and levelled the series - would have been a great source of relief for them. After an irritating defeat in Port Elizabeth, the Proteas got to Kingsmead with a clenched jaw.
They won the toss and bowled, under beautiful skies, and then proceeded to bowl hard lengths. If they had cruised their way to defeat in the opening ODI, they were not about to make the same mistake in the second.
Kagiso Rabada took the new ball, and hurried Imam ul-Haq into an ill hook. He popped it to Andile Phehlukwayo at wide mid-on. That was not to be Phehlukwayo’s last contribution. In an all-round display that would have done wonders for his confidence - as well as the team’s concerns - he enjoyed a career day.
Firstly, he took four for 22 with the ball, to help restrict the Pakistanis to 203 all out. If 266 was not enough on Saturday, a smidgen over 200 was not going to do the business in Durban. Phehlukwayo had help in skittling the tourists. Tabraiz Shamsi, in for Imran Tahir, grabbed his opportunity. Though the Pakistan tail wagged, the left-arm wrist-spinner kept ripping it, and his reward was three for 56.
Rabada, leading the line, was all intensity and pace, snaring two for 35 in nine overs. The bowling all round was on a different level, and Pakistan were knocked off their stride by the efficiency.
Hasan Ali spared the visitors’ blushes with a fighting 59, with three sixes and five fours lifting his side beyond 200. Skipper Sarfraz Ahmed chipped in with 41, as the tourists tried to make a game of it.
There was an expectant crowd, with more than a sprinkling of Pakistan flags, the weather was festive, and the pitch was decent. On another day, with a bit more restraint, Pakistan might have hoped to make at least 260, and give South Africa something to think about.
Even so, the Proteas top-order made heavy weather of the total. Before the end of the sixth over, they had slumped to 29 for three, and the questions were left to the middleorder. Shaheen Shah Afridi helped himself to all three wickets, as South Africa tried to do things in a hurry.
David Miller, on home soil, looked like he might stroke his way to another match-clinching century, with some powerful drives in his 31. Just as he looked set fair, he chipped Shadab Khan to Ul-Haq, leaving the remaining 124 to Rassie van der Dussen and Phehlukwayo.
It was a tall order, especially to a recent debutant and a relative novice. Van der Dussen built on his 93 from three days ago, which now makes leaving him out of future plans very difficult.
He stroked his way to 80 not out off 123 balls, and he allowed Phehlukwayo to do his thing at the other end. The powerful southpaw rode his luck somewhat, surviving a leg-before shout, as well as a few streaky strokes. But there was plenty of power and cheeky creativity in his breakthrough 63 not out.
He won a game for his country, and that is something that he has been challenged to do. At some stage, at the World Cup, he may well face a similar situation to the one he faced at Kingsmead last night. Knowing that he has done it, in a game that had to be won, will fill him and his side with a lot of confidence.
The third ODI is on Friday at Supersport Park Centurion.