Wind, rain, some tough opposition and a bit of Duckworth Lewis mathematics, ensured South Africa got more than they bargained for out of yesterday’s warm-up match against Sri Lanka in Christchurch.
They’ll be back at the Hagley Oval tomorrow to face New Zealand in their last training outing before the World Cup starts, and will be grateful if they can get as much action in that match too.
The results of the warm-up games don’t matter but as Kyle Abbott explained yesterday, professional sportsmen just can’t help themselves and as the match against Sri Lanka got close, the South African players were counting each run.
In that regard yesterday’s encounter served its purpose. The South African players will still be feeling the effects of jet lag for the next few days, but at least their competitive juices got flowing as they successfully overcame a target that was reduced a couple of times owing to bad weather.
They may have initially only wanted a run around to get some bowling miles in the legs and some batting time at the crease – especially for Quinton de Kock – but the fact they were involved in a tight encounter will have sharpened the senses as the countdown to the World Cup turns from weeks into days and very soon hours.
Rain had initially curtailed Sri Lanka’s innings in the 45th over with their total on 279/7 which was thanks mainly to a century from Tillikaratne Dilshan. The South African reply started late owing to rain, with the target first set at 224 off 30 overs but then readjusted – after they started batting – to 188 off 25 overs.
Crucially De Kock, in need of some time in the middle after a lengthy lay-off owing to an ankle problem, got over an hour at the crease yesterday and made 66, with the six fours and two sixes that he hit in that innings no doubt further building his self-belief.
Conditions were very difficult for the bowlers Abbott admitted. The wind was harsh and a steep incline as they were running in from one end added to their problems. “It wasn’t at all comfortable, especially in the first spells up against the wind,” said the KwaZulu-Natalian who got through 6.4 overs and picked up three wickets.
While they may not have previously targeted gathering data from the warm-up games, the fact that the bowlers got to struggle in such conditions can only be useful especially for matches in Auckland and Wellington later in the competition.
Captain AB de Villiers sat out yesterday with a “tight right hip” which wasn’t considered serious and Abbott remarked that De Villiers may get a run against New Zealand tomorrow.
While most players actively participated yesterday, it was somewhat surprising that South Africa chose not to give Farhaan Behardien an opportunity to have a bat. With plenty of doubts floating around about his selection, and having produced little of any substance since being picked, yesterday would have been an ideal opportunity to give him time in the middle, either coming in at No3 or four to try and build an innings or as the match got close towards the end. After all, coming in at No7 as he’s done recently and as seems likely during the World Cup, he would have appreciated the chance to try and finish the match.
Instead Rilee Rossouw and Vernon Philander were at the crease when the match was completed.
Meanwhile South Africa’s opponents for their first World Cup match, Zimbabwe gave a reasonable account of themselves in another warm-up game against New Zealand picking up seven wickets in 30 overs. The match was abandoned due to rain with New Zealand on 157/7 after 30.1 overs.
Tinashe Panyangara and skipper Elton Chigumbura each picked up two wickets, while for New Zealand, opener Martin Guptill made a hundred.
Zimbabwe will hang to any shred of confidence they can after a difficult build-up to the tournament which has featured disagreements over payment for the players and the late arrival of their coach Dav Whatmore.
The did manage to raise a smile yesterday while posing for pictures with All Black coach Steve Hansen, who was in town to meet with his cricket counterpart Mike Hesson. - The Star