Brendon McCullum: This was one hell of a game
do about it in their next match, against West Indies in Sydney on Friday, that would matter.
Not that their challenge was simply to beat West Indies. That, South Africans knew from the 4-1 hiding their team handed the palookas of the Caribbean in a one-day series in SA in January, they could do. They needed to thrash them. And thrash them they did, by 257 runs, which equalled the biggest klap yet administered at a World Cup.
The nation, then, can breathe easily. It would be more difficult for AB de Villiers’ team to struggle against Ireland, whom they play in Canberra on Tuesday, than beat them convincingly.
Pakistan, their opponents in Auckland on Saturday, are lurching from one internal disaster to the next. SA’s last group match is against the United Arab Emirates in Wellington on March 12. Useless Arab Emirates? Who said that? So, it is plain sailing from here to the quarterfinals.
That SA could, in the space of six days, go from woeful to wonderful was due in no small part to further confirmation of De Villiers’ genius. His 162 not out against the Windies was the kind of innings the crowd would have paid exponentially more to see. Imran Tahir, too, was worth the price of admission for his celebrations alone — never mind his haul of 5/45.
But SA know they can depend on players like De Villiers and Tahir. What they might not have known before Friday was that Rossouw, who scored 61, can play like his life depends on
But Boult, in on a hat-trick, survived Starc’s final two deliveries of the 23rd over.
Then, with six needed to win, Kane Williamson (45 not out) drove the next ball, from Pat Cummins, high over the ropes to set the seal on a sensational match.
“It was one hell of a game,” said McCullum, after his side’s fourth win in as many Pool A matches saw them become the first team to qualify for the quarterfinals.
“Both teams showed what quality bowlers they have. It was an amazing atmosphere and a great game to be a part it and not like the rich kid from Bloem that he is.
“We play football games for warm-ups, and he’s one of those guys you don’t want to be around when it gets tense,” De Villiers said.
“He’s very competitive, and I like to see that. I just like the look of him.”
South Africans would also have been pleased to learn that of. I’m sure everyone will go home happy.
“It’s good to see both teams getting 300-plus, but sometimes 150 games can be pretty exciting and everyone can go and have a beer now.
“Trent Boult was outstanding for us, as was Mitchell Starc for Australia.”
Australia captain Michael Clarke said his side had to bat better against swing bowling if they were to win the World Cup.
“I think credit needs to go to New Zealand. They bowled really well. They swung the ball nicely and bowled good areas, but our shot selection was very poor and I thought our defence more than anything else was an area that was a lot poorer than we would have liked.
“I think moving forward the balls are going to swing and we’ve got work to do with the bat. That’s for sure.”
Australia were well placed at 80 for one, with opener David Warner (34) and Shane Watson (23) adding 50 for the second wicket, before a rapid collapse saw eight wickets lost for just 26 runs.
It was only through a lastwicket stand of 45 between Kyle Abbott — who removed threats Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels in the space of seven of his deliveries — wants, more than anything, to be part of this team. That much was obvious from his raw yawp of joy at those successes. Don’t give that man a Bell’s; give him the ball.
“He looked like a really experienced bowler out there,” De Villiers said. “He looked like he Brad Haddin (43) and Pat Cummins (seven not out) that Australia avoided their lowest World Cup total of 129, against India at Chelmsford in 1983.
That Australia almost pulled off a stunning win was down to a brilliant bowling effort led by left-arm paceman Starc’s career-best six for 28.
“I made it clear to the boys that I thought we had enough runs, and I think you have to do that certainly as captain of the team,” Clarke said. “You have to back your bowlers. knew what he was doing, and that’s just great to see.”
Rossouw and Abbott were replacements for the injured JP Duminy and the axed Wayne Parnell. Would they keep their places?
“It would be difficult to leave them out. But it’s great for the team — 15 guys in good form.”
Not so fast, skipper. Quinton de Kock is not the player he was
“We’ve got a fantastic attack. All the guys have individual skill and talent. And I think you’ve seen a good glimpse of that with the way Starcy bowled today.
“So the faith was there, and we just had to execute. I think we did that. Starc to me was a standout today. That individual performance was as good as you’ll see in any form of the game.”
Clarke, who holed out off Boult in his first international game since December last year following a hamstring injury, added: “I’d like some more runs. I’m no different from the other top six batters. We were disappointing today, and my shot selection was poor.”
India’s World Cup confidence continued to climb as they thrashed the United Arab Emirates by nine wickets in their Pool B match at Perth’s WACA Ground. —
What they might not have known before Friday was that Rilee Rossouw can play like his life depends on it
before his ankle injury, Farhaan Behardien needs to do more than rotate the strike, and Dale Steyn is a dragon who has mislaid his fire. Comment on this: write to tellus@sundaytimes.co.za or SMS us at 33971 www.timeslive.co.za