AB given licence to make merry
TWENTY20: PROTEAS OUT TO CLINCH SERIES IN DHAKA Rossouw lauds South African spin attack after Duminy and Phangiso tame the Tigers.
Proteas batting star AB de Villiers will get a second bite at the cherry inopening the batting for the national side as they square off against Bangladesh in the second and final match of the Twenty20 series against Bangladesh in Dhaka today.
The South Africans got their month-long tour to Bangladesh off to the perfect start on Sunday with a comfortable 52-run win.
De Villiers, promoted to open the batting with Quinton de Kock, lasted just 6 balls before he was dismissed for 2 in the first over. If he came show a glimpse of the form he was in for most of last season today, he will give the national selector serious food for thought in their planning for the World Twenty 20 in India next year.
The Proteas’ spin attack gave the selectors plenty reason to smile about in their display in the first match. Aaron Phangiso (1/21) and JP Duminy (2/11) made use of conducive conditions to shift the match in South Africa’s favour, particularly during the crucial middle period when the Tigers looked to be in control.
“Both sides bowled spin really well today,” Rilee Rossouw said after the match. “Luckily for us we bowled in the second innings and I thought that favoured us a little bit more. We showed good skill and patience but all in all I thought both teams were good with spin.”
Rossouw’s (31 off 21 balls) unbeaten 58-run partnership with Man-of-the-Match, Proteas captain Faf du Plessis (79 off 61 balls), gave the Proteas a vital lift towards a “par” total on a low and slow deck. The left-hander slotted into his new role at No 6 with ease, despite challenging conditions and Bangladesh’s spin barrage.
Beuran Hendricks, Chris Morris and rookie Eddie Leie, who were the three squad members to sit out on Sunday, will be keen to get a run today. Especially Hendricks and Leie, who is not part of the one-day or Tests squads.