Proteas still not convincing

Proteas captain AB de Villiers' wish coming into this final Pool B encounter was "just a good basic game of cricket". Photo by: Anthony Phelps/Reuters

Proteas captain AB de Villiers' wish coming into this final Pool B encounter was "just a good basic game of cricket". Photo by: Anthony Phelps/Reuters

Published Mar 12, 2015

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Wellington – South Africa captain AB de Villiers’ wish coming into this final Pool B encounter was “just a good basic game of cricket”. Although South Africa comfortably collected the two points that rubber-stamped their qualification for the quarter-finals, it was not quite the performance that would have fulfilled De Villiers’ desires.

The batting unit again required the skipper’s brilliance to stop a slippery slide when the slow and dry drop-in pitch seemed to be tailormade for the UAE medium-pacers. Coming to the crease on 84/2 in the 17th over, De Villiers saw the cavalier Rilee Rossouw gift his wicket away for the countless time in this World Cup just a couple of overs later to leave the Proteas precariously placed on 93/3.

Matter could have been compounded for South Africa had the UAE reviewed an LBW appeal against De Villiers when he had just eight, but instead they were content to be just another team the supremely gifted right-hander hands out a pasting to.

It was not a typical De Villiers innings filled with all those extravagant slog-scoops, with the captain instead showcasing his ability to be patient when the situation requires. Lessons that hopefully some of the other top-order batsmen, most notably Quinton de Kock who failed yet again yesterday, watching from the dug-out would have taken note of.

There is though no bowling attack in the world, least not a group of amateur club players, that can contain De Villiers once he has faced more than 20 balls; more so after being afforded a second life when seamer Amjad Javed could not hold on to a return catch.

De Villiers’ response to the let-off was a pick-up shot over midwicket for six the very next ball that kick-started his momentum. There were a couple more boundaries the next over and De Villiers was into over-drive now with a third century at this World Cup on offer.

However, his 21st ton would have to wait for another day though as the Proteas captain sliced a wide delivery from Kamran Shazad to Amjad Javed, who made up for his earlier miss, with a sharp catch at short third-man to leave De Villiers stranded on 99.

The recovery job though had been done with South Africa handily placed on 257/5 with 7.4 overs remaining after David Miller had also contributed 49 in a 98-run partnership for the fourth wicket with De Villiers.

This World Cup though has showed that anything under 300 runs is not out of reach for the team chasing, regardless of who the opposition is and South Africa knew they still required some late innings impetus to finish off on a strong note.

Farhaan Behardien had been recalled for the injured Faf du Plessis and here was now a real opportunity to “make a play” as they are wont to say in the dressingroom. Behardien duly delivered in only his second turn at the crease in the World Cup despite having played four games already. The Titans stalwart comes in for plenty of criticism from all sorts, often unjust in contrast to someone like Rossouw perhaps, who was persisted with despite a horror start to his international career.

South Africa have been crying for someone to take hold of that No 7 spot and with Behardien smashing 64 not out off just 31 balls (5x4, 3x6) it certainly vindicates the selectors initial thought processes of including the 31-year-old in the squad ahead of someone like perhaps Ryan McLaren, especially with a quarter-final looming large on the horizon. With Behardien also delivering a miserly spell with the ball his stocks would certainly have risen within the camp.

South Africa’s overall performance with the ball was not as penetrative as they would have liked even though the UAE batsmen struggled.

It was only Morne Morkel who bowled with any sort of fire.

In the end, the Proteas won by a massive 146 runs. - The Star

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