Faf full of praise for Proteas pacemen
Du Plessis has labelled SA’s T20 series win as the ‘best yet’ and believes the momentum gained bodes well for ODI series which starts next week.
Decision to use Tahir up front proved a masterstroke.
Proteas captain Faf du Plessis has labelled the series-clinching bowling performance against India in Cuttack on Monday as “possibly the best” he has experienced as leader of the T20 side. The pacemen, alongside some sharp fielding, helped to dismiss India for their lowest T20 score at home.
“I thought today was possibly the best bowling performance I have seen from us in T20 cricket,” he said to the media after the match. “It was amazing to see how well all the bowlers bowled. To be two-nil up against India in India is a huge achievement.”
Du Plessis says the series win will spur on the confidence ahead of the one-day international series starting in Kanpur in less than a week.
“The way you start when you come to India is extremely important,” he said. “It’s hard to pull yourself back when you start with a couple of losses, when India is on top they play really well. It was important that we hit our straps from the beginning.”
Monday’s win was also one of Du Plessis’ most tactically astute performances as captain since his appointment in 2013, but the 31-year-old was quick to give credit to the bowlers.
“It was a gut feel to try and use Immi (Tahir) up front,” he said. “He hasn’t bowled in the Power Play before but it was a case of changing things up and trying to be unpredictable so the batsmen couldn’t plan ahead.
“I thought there was great variation in the first few overs,” he added. “There was spin and pace along with two great run-outs, the plan was to get wickets up front. It was a great performance from our bowlers, we kept it consistent even after six overs.”
The Proteas travel to Kolkata today ahead of the final match of the series at Eden Gardens tomorrow.