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Loss to New Zealand shows Proteas still have no fire in the belly

Loss to New Zealand shows Proteas still have no fire in the belly

South Africa lost the second Twenty20 against New Zealand by 32 runs in Centurion on Sunday. While neither side have their best players on show, South Africa’s loss raised so many of the questions which plague them during knockout matches in a match which doesn’t even really matter. By ANTOINETTE MULLER.

The series might have as much contextual relevance as a cricket World Cup in which the world isn’t actually invited to take part, but South Africa’s loss in the second Twenty20 against New Zealand has created more questions than answers. There is still plenty of time left for South Africa before next year’s World Twenty20 in India, but it seems their old foe temperament still follows them around like a grim shadow. They might have been missing some of their senior players, but the fact that the flaw of succumbing to pressure transcends generation will be a concern. There is some time to correct that, while South Africa tweak and tinker with combinations and such, but because the lead-up to the World Twenty20 is so fragmented, they will have to box clever.

Take nothing away from New Zealand, they were crafty, irritating and played very well on Sunday, but South Africa’s application left much to be desired at times. Having lost the toss and being sent into bat, South Africa restricted New Zealand to a par score of 177-7 in their 20 overs. Much of that was, once again, thanks to some dubious bowling up front. Much like in the first Twenty20 on Friday, South Africa’s bowlers lacked plans in Powerplay overs and if there were any plans, they were executed woefully.

As in the first Twenty20, South Africa’s inexperienced bowling attack managed to pull things back, but not enough to put the pressure on New Zealand’s batsmen. There is plenty of talent in this rookie attack and there is reason to believe that they will become better as they gain more experience, but it is South Africa’s batting approach that was found lacking on Sunday. After a decent performance in the first match on Friday, where everyone got a start and the batsmen kept their cool, Sunday’s result was a big disappointment. While captain AB de Villiers admitted that he would have batted first had he won the toss, South Africa won’t be blaming their defeat on a coin.

The strike rates of the South African batsmen were telling. While they threw the kitchen sink at New Zealand’s bowlers, there really wasn’t much to show for their all-guns-blazing approach. South Africa’s power hitters – D Villiers and Rilee Rossouw – tried their utmost to set a foundation and while both went out to sharp catches, neither was necessary. When captain De Villiers went out swinging, the run-rate was still completely gettable at just over nine to the over. De Villiers had just hit a six off the previous ball and, perhaps feeling as if this chase rested on his shoulders, went for another big hit. Far be it from a lackey hack to dictate to the best batsman in the world how he should play the game, but the unnecessary aggression did more harm than good.

Rossouw’s dismissal came during a period of pressure, which might not have been entirely his fault. When De Villiers was dismissed, South Africa opted to send in Farhaan Behardien.  Why on this green earth of ours Behardien was sent in before Miller only the Proteas’ brains trust will know. Rossouw went in search of some pressure relief as the required rate had increased.

While hindsight might be 20-20, it is unfathomable that South Africa do not see value in promoting Miller up the order more often. While he struggles to get going at international level right from the get go, once Miller gets his eye in he can be devastating. To bat him at number six is a waste of a very valuable resource. Under the circumstances, Behardien did remarkably well and despite the fact that he got out to a full toss, he is hardly to blame for South Africa’s collapse.

By the time David Wiese got in and out within four balls, the writing was already on the wall for South Africa. Miller soldiered on valiantly, but breath-taking match-winning heroics don’t often come around on a lazy afternoon in Centurion.

In the long-term, this loss will be completely inconsequential, but South Africa will do well to heed the early warning signs of the effect even the tiniest bit of pressure still has on them.

Scorecard summary: New Zealand won by 32 runs

New Zealand 177-7: Martin Guptill 60 (35); Kagiso Rabada 3-0-30-3

South Africa 145-8: Farhaan Behardien 36 (27); Ish Sodhi 4-0-27-2 DM

Photo: South Africa’s Farhaan Behardien plays a shot during their second Twenty20 cricket match against New Zealand in Centurion August 16, 2015. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko

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