That’s more like it from the Proteas
SOUTH Africa have won a match and for their next trick they plan to win a series.
Considering they have won the opening match of the series twice already this summer without being able to complete the job, nothing will be taken for granted when they head to Bloemfontein for the second ODI against Australia on Wednesday.
But for now they will be content for putting in a complete performance for once. The 74–run victory over this powerful Australian side was as comprehensive as it was unexpected.
When ODI debutant Janneman Malan was dismissed first ball for a golden duck and captain Quinton de Kock also removed with the Proteas’ innings still in its formative stages, it certainly seemed that the home side’s faulty batting engine was struggling to start once more.
And when Temba Bavuma chopped on to his stumps before the 10th over was completed, the Paarl faithful feared they may not even see their swanky new floodlights being switched on.
However, that brought another debutant Kyle Verreynne (48) and Heinrich Klaasen (123*) together and the ginger-haired duo consolidated with a 78-run stand that kept the Australian bowlers and fielders in the searing Boland heat.
Although Verreynne fell to a pull shot just two runs short of a debut half-century when he gifted Pat Cummins his 100th ODI wicket, Klaasen was only getting started. The Titans man was superb. He assessed the conditions quickly before unleashing his full array of attacking strokes to raise his bat for his maiden ODI century.
The partnership with David Miller killed off the Aussies, their 149-run stand for the fifth wicket boosting SA’S total to one that was possibly 30 runs above par.
With Miller (64 off 70 balls) looking to hit straight down the ground and Klaasen pouncing on anything short, the home batsmen were finally in control and it allowed the hosts to post 291/7.
It certainly seemed the Proteas had done their homework after the T20 series. Test spinner Keshav Maharaj was recalled to the ODI side after an 18-month absence and was called on to open the bowling.
That immediately closed the tap that had been leaking during the T20s with Aaron Finch nor David Warner able to get Australia out of the starting blocks.
It also allowed Lungi Ngidi (3/30) to settle in when he was brought into the attack with the big fast bowler claiming three crucial wickets.
Australia were always in the hunt when Steve Smith (76) was still at the crease, but his task became steeper with each wicket falling to the wrist-spin of Shamsi and ultimately it became too much for Smith with Anrich Nortje trapping him LBW before the Proteas speedster closed out the match in rapid fashion.