CAPE TOWN - Like a blast from the past, Aaron Phangiso sent the national selectors a timely reminder on Tuesday that he is not spent a force at international level.
Phangiso, 33, has not been part of a national ODI squad since last October when he claimed 2/17 in 4.4 overs against Australia in the fourth match of the series.
He has since been overlooked for the 5-0 drubbing of Sri Lanka at home, the 3-2 series victory over New Zealand away, the 2-1 defeat of England away and also the failed ICC Champions Trophy campaign.
Prior to his axing, the Highveld Lions left-armer was routinely the back-up to the world’s leading white-ball spin bowler Imran Tahir in the Proteas squad.
However, the emergence of firstly Chinaman bowler Tabraiz Shamsi saw Phangiso slip down the pecking order. Phangiso’s stock dipped even further when Shamsi too was deemed surplus to requirements for the England series and Champions Trophy, with Proteas Test spinner Keshav Maharaj receiving a maiden ODI call-up.
Maharaj has since taken the opportunities that have come his way with a superb 3/25 performance at Lord’s.
Phangiso, though, showed that he should not be consigned to the backwaters just yet with a brilliant performance against India A in the opening match of the Tri-Series at CBC Old Boys Club in Pretoria. He claimed 4/20 to help dismiss the power-packed India A batting line-up for just 152, which ultimately paved the way for South Africa A to claim a two-wicket victory.
Although the wicket was slow and conducive to spin, the tourists would be disappointed with their efforts on a surface they are virtually reared on, especially with quality players such as Manish Pandey and Karun Nair in their line-up.
“It was very good bowling performance by Phangi,” said Cricket SA High Performance Manager Vincent Barnes.
“After being out of cricket for a while, he has had joined the SA A side and been working very hard. He is a class act and I’ve always rated him very highly. His variation of pace was outstanding today.”
Although the South Africa A batsmen made heavy weather of chasing down the paltry target, with a 66-run partnership between Proteas ODI all-rounders Farhaan Behardien (37 not out) and Dwaine Pretorius (38) the only worthy contribution, coach Shukri Conrad will take the victory as a massive morale booster for his players.
The SA A team recently endured a miserable tour of England where they were humbled in both the ODI series and one-off 'Test', and were in need of a better showing in the opening match of this Tri-Series, which also features Afghanistan A after the Australia A players withdrew due to a contract dispute with Cricket Australia.
The pace bowlers set the tone upfront to lay the platform for Phangiso to wreak havoc later on. Left-arm seamer Beuran Hendricks was impressive with the new ball, claiming 2/16 from his six overs, while Pretorius chipped in with 3/24.