DURBAN – The Proteas, needing one win to seal the one-day series against New Zealand in Hamilton on Wednesday morning, will go into the fourth ODI full of respect for their hosts.
And with good reason, too. The Kiwis, still hurting after the 159-run drubbing in the third match at the weekend, are a proud nation, and they have already made several changes to address their shortfall.
Senior batsman Martin Guptill has been roped in, after recovering from hamstring injury. Guptill brings with him a touch of class, and no end of power and authority with the bat.
It is asking much to expect him to hit the ground running, but runs have been the Kiwis’ biggest problem.
“It’s exciting to be back, it’s been a while,” Guptill said.
“We’ve got two games to win, so it doesn’t get much bigger than that.”
The Black Caps are certainly not under any illusions about the challenge in front of them.
Returning New Zealand batsman Martin Guptill brings with him a touch of class.
Their foes are playing some of their best white-ball cricket, with clearly defined roles and a refreshingly positive outlook for every scenario. They have looked at every obstacle as practice for big moments in tournaments, so the odd setback – like the second ODI defeat – is taken with a pinch of perspective.
The South African bowlers have suffocated the Kiwis at every turn, either striking with the new ball, or drying up runs and then allowing Imran Tahir to run amok.
In Hamilton, which spun appreciably when the teams played there at the start of the tour, the Proteas may be tempted to give Tahir support in the way of chinaman bowler Tabraiz Shamsi.
The horses-for-courses approach has worked very well for the Proteas to this point, and they would have assessed the conditions with the fresh perspective from their last match.
AB de Villiers noted that it had taken them by surprise, and warned the Test players that they should bear it in mind come the five-day format.
For now, De Villiers will be eager to finish off the series at the first opportunity. All the talk has been on resting prized asset Kagiso Rabada, but the tearaway is as keen as ever to get back on the park and do the business.
“We’re always confident going into a game, but never complacent. We know that the Black Caps can come and get a victory over us here (Hamilton),” Rabada warned.
“They have got all the necessary skill and all the talent to do it,” he emphasised.
Rabada’s diplomacy will be taken in the right spirit by the Kiwis, but they know that the saint becomes the savage once he crosses the white line. If the most exciting fast-bowling talent to emerge into world cricket over the past 18 months is on fire in Hamilton, it won’t matter if the pitch turns or not.
That is the simple truth, and the Black Caps will brace themselves for the Rabada rampage. As he so often has in his still fledgling career, the speedster holds the key for the Proteas with ball in hand.
@whamzam17
Likely Teams For Hamilton
New Zealand:
Martin Guptill, Dean Brownlie, Kane Williamson (captain), Ross Taylor, Jimmy Neesham, Luke Ronchi (wk), Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Time Southee, Jeetan Patel, Trent Boult.
South Africa:
Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock (wk), Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers (captain), JP Duminy, David Miller, Dwaine Pretorius, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Imran Tahir, Tabraiz Shamsi.
Start:
3am South African time.