Thumbs up to the Proteas on their winning streak
The batsmen, with the exception of Quinton de Kock, all delivered.
The Proteas had to work harder on a less responsive pitch, meaning each success tasted a bit sweeter. Photo: Gianluigi Guercia/AFP.
The SA cricket team couldn’t have asked for a better start to their tour of New Zealand than their 78-run win over the Black Caps in the T20 international in Auckland on Friday.
The batsmen, with the exception of Quinton de Kock, all delivered. The bowlers – and in particular Chris Morris and Imran Tahir – were world-class, and the fielding was top notch.
You always want to start a tour with a bang, and despite missing out on their only warm-up match this week due to the weather, the Proteas have done exactly that.
The victory will give the Proteas huge confidence ahead of the five-match one-day international series that starts in Hamilton on Sunday.
Not that the national cricketers needed a confidence boost after enjoying a rich vein of form over the last seven months. The only blotch on the scorecard for the Proteas since August last year was a T20 series defeat to Sri Lanka on home soil.
Since then they have won six out of eight Tests, including a third straight away Test series triumph over Australia, and 11 one-day internationals in a row – a streak that includes two 5-0 series whitewashes.
New Zealand may be fresh off a series victory over neighbours Australia, but South Africa are ranked No 1 in the world in limited-overs cricket for good reason and have certainly found their rhythm.
Keep it going Faf du Plessis and company.
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