Andile Phehlukwayo grew further in stature as an international bowler with another good performance. Photo: Johan Pretorius/Gallo Images.
The Proteas are one game away of winning all three series on Bangladesh’s tour after claiming a comfortable 20-run win over the Tigers in the first T20 in Bloemfontein on Thursday night.
However, there’ll be a distinct feeling that the home side benefited more from the visitors’ own tendency to self-destruct than their own efforts.
Despite the security of having 195/4 on the board, South Africa didn’t actually bowl all that well.
Most of the seamers bowled far too short on a friendly batting surface that didn’t reward that strategy, especially at their pace.
As a result, Bangladesh were 92/2 in the tenth over and on target as opener Soumya Sarkar (47 off 31) played some crunching, pleasing shots.
But then he was trapped LBW by the impressive Andile Phehlukwayo, who understood the value of bowling fuller and slower.
The 21-year-old all-rounder fully deserved his figures of 2/25, which were only ruined by a six from his last ball.
Nonetheless, the pressure he exerted saw the Bangladeshis play increasingly desperate shots, allowing Beuran Hendricks (), Dane Paterson (2/29) and debutant Robbie Frylinck (2/33) to make up for their indifferent bowling earlier.
Earlier, stand-in captain JP Duminy’s decision to bat first was wholly justified as the batters generally enjoyed themselves.
Quinton de Kock, who’s been unstoppable in white ball cricket the past week or so, continued his outstanding form with an anchoring 59, surprisingly his highest score in T20 internationals.
The talented left-hander had the luxury to sit back a bit as AB de Villiers dazzled following the early dismissal of Hashim Amla.
The 33-year-old star was simply sublime.
There was one magnificent leg side flick, where he shuffled and then bowed down ever so slightly to catch the ball on the full.
But the expected big score didn’t materialise as he skied Mehidy Hassan for 49 off just 27 balls.
Farhaan Behardien showed maturity in rounding things off with a fine, unbeaten 36 off 17 balls.
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