adminTemba Bavuma might be more liberated and relaxed when batting nowadays, but that doesn’t mean he now lacks a ruthless streak as Proteas white-ball skipper.
Despite the fact that the side overhauling the third biggest target – 343 – in their ODI history, the diminutive right-hander believes South Africa could’ve ended the match much earlier such was their dominance over England’s uninspired attack.
David Miller’s glorious lofted drive for six eventually ensured a five-wicket victory and series win with five deliveries remaining.
“Ideally, we would’ve wanted to finish that game with two or three overs to go,” said Bavuma.
The main reason for that was ICC emerging player of the year Marco Jansen enduring a hit-and-miss stay at the crease.
The beanpole 22-year-old, perhaps looking to make amends for a fairly mediocre spell of bowling, was guilty of being overeager to get his team over the line though eventually ending with a valuable 29-ball 32, predominantly due to Miller’s expert guidance.
South Africa’s ice-man, nicknamed ‘‘Killer’’ after his exploits in last year’s Indian Premier League, banked on all his experience and kept his head, conscious that Jansen has an innate ability to find the boundary – even when it seems he can’t get the ball off the square.
That was evident when, after several dot balls, Jansen cracked Sam Curran off the back foot through the covers for a four that whittled down the equation to 2 from 6 balls.
“Marco obviously wasn’t always able to get a few of his shots past the fielders and faced some dot balls, but what we liked out there in the dugout is the intent that he still showed,” said Bavuma.
“We knew the other guys were going to play the same way. David again showed his experience and his class. He was there to take it to the end. Everybody chipped in. It was a great team performance.”
Indeed, while Miller and Jansen gained plaudits for guiding South Africa home, the key for the hosts was the middle order’s ability to get going from the outset whenever a wicket fell.
Aiden Markram’s 42-ball 49 proved crucial as did Rassie van der Dussen and Heinrich Klaasen’s efforts.
In fact, England skipper Jos Buttler singled it out as the factor that proved the difference between the teams.
“It was always going to be tough to defend that total, the shorter side of the ground gave all the batters an option for boundaries,” he said. Temba obviously played really well, but I thought Markram, Klaasen and Miller’s (innings were vital because) they were able to sort of get away straight away and we were never able to place pressure on them.”
The final ODI will be played in Kimberley on tomorrow. – News24.com.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter