“If we can actually bat to our capabilities, that’ll put South Africa under more pressure, both with the ball and put their batters under pressure as well”, he said.
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Australian debutant bowler Joe Mennie had a horror start to his global career, recording the worst figures by an Australian on debut as South Africa stormed to a 142-run victory in the second one-day worldwide. “He prospered against Ireland, but it remains to be seen how he will go against better players under South African conditions”. But there was a lot more to it than that.
The coastal city was a stark contrast to the dry and dusty bowlers’ graveyards in Centurion and Johannesburg where they were well beaten in the first two one-day internationals against the Proteas.
His rewards were plentiful.
De Kock’s 178 from 113 balls – the highest ODI score ever made in South Africa and many more records besides – was an immediate indication of the challenge facing Australia.
The biggest concern from a South African point is Faf du Plessis who has not only gone through a lean patch of form, but has also gone into survival mode, much like Gary Ballance has done for England.
The rest belonged to De Kock, and when he got out – hooking Scott Boland to be caught on the square leg boundary in the 34th over – SA needed just 15 runs to win.
Partnerships of 70, 76 and 150 for the first, second and third wickets respectively formed the spine of South Africa’s batting as they made optimum use of a steady start to amass a big total.
Australian captain Steve Smith said he felt South Africa’s total was only 20 or 30 runs above par, given the history of the Wanderers pitch.
Neither Mennie nor Tremain could force an early breakthrough, leaving John Hastings to remove De Kock on 22, with Tremain holding the catch.
A pitch that seemed to gain pace under lights‚ a lightning fast outfield and thin air that allowed the ball to fly far made conditions ideal for aggressive batting at Centurion.
The visitors will be banking on the explosive opening combination of Warner and Finch to deliver the goods for them in the first ODI. He did this very well with John Hastings when they scored 79 runs for the seventh wicket before Hastings was caught by Farhaan Behardien to give Phehlukwayo his fourth wicket.
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But George Bailey (74) was the only specialist batsman who could go on to a half-century, Phehlukwayo doing most of the damage in only his second ODI. Although he completed his full allocation in his first ODI since he suffered a shoulder injury while bowling against England last December, he was below his best, left the field twice and on several occasions looked concerned about the shoulder. He returned to wrap up the innings by dismissing Bailey and Adam Zampa.
