Proteas must now record back-to-back wins

Following their best performance on tour so far, confidence in the Proteas camp will be high ahead of the key Tri-Nation series clash against Australia.

Following their best performance on tour so far, confidence in the Proteas camp will be high ahead of the key Tri-Nation series clash against Australia.

Published Jun 17, 2016

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JOHANNESBURG: Having produced arguably their best performance of the tour hitherto in dismantling the West Indies in St Kitts on Wednesday, confidence in the Proteas camp will be high ahead of the key Tri-Nation series clash against Australia on Sunday.

The series shifts to Barbados but the South Africans will, initially at least, have to forego the St Lawrence Gap – Bridgetown’s renowned party spot – as they prepare for the world champions.

The Proteas’ 139-run midweek win finally saw them come close to fulfilling captain AB de Villiers’ hopes of an all-round team performance. There was controlled aggression with the bat – some enlightened thinking, too, that saw Chris Morris come in at No 3 – before Imran Tahir produced his record-setting spell to seal on a fine display.

South Africa were finally able to produce a good start with an opening stand of 182 runs between Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock.

Amla has been the Proteas’ most consistent batsman in the Caribbean and he finally gained reward with a 23rd ODI century. He is now one away from De Villiers’ record in the 50-over format.

Significantly, South Africa bravely chose to throw in Morris (40 runs off 26 balls) to maintain the momentum that the openers had built.

Faf du Plessis also blasted an unbeaten 73 as the Proteas finished on 343/4, comfortably the highest total of the tournament thus far.

And that gave Tahir the freedom to bowl with greater aggression and complete the ninth-best ODI figures of all time (7/45).

“I had a lot of freedom to bowl in a way I wanted to because the boys put a decent total on the board,” he said. “The runs gave us the opportunity to attack and things went well for us.”

The talismanic spinner also became the 11th South African to pick up 100 ODI wickets, and recorded the second “fiver” of his career.

“(The West Indies batsmen) are attacking players, but players who do attack also provide you with an opportunity which is what I look for – to see where they like to score, make sure you don’t go there,” Tahir said.

“It’s a big challenge in modern-day cricket as a spinner with five fielders in the circle. But I like that challenge, and I’m very happy to contribute to the team doing well.”

The challenge now for South Africa is to try and become the first team to win back-to-back matches in this tournament when they take on the Australians on Sunday.

Steve Smith’s men have had a significant time off following their loss to the Windies on Monday and according to seamer Josh Hazlewood, the Aussies are feeling refreshed ahead of the final leg of the series.

A win for the Proteas would confirm their spot in the final, to be played next Sunday at the Kensington Oval. - Cape Times

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