Gerald Coetzee.
Charle Lombard/Gallo Images
- Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma didn’t hide his disappointment at his attack, which was generally too wayward and ultimately at fault for the loss to Australia in the first ODI.
- Moreover, the bowlers still managed to reduced the visitors to 113/7 in a smallish chase that should’ve seen the hosts take advantage had they simply been more disciplined overall.
- Bavuma isn’t concerned about a losing groove setting in so close to the World Cup.
- For more sports news, go to the News24 Sport front page.
Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma made no effort to paper over the failings of his somewhat capricious attack despite the apparent comfort of a superficially close loss to Australia in the first ODI in Bloemfontein on Thursday night.
Yet in reality, the three-wicket loss does little to alleviate mounting doubts over South Africa’s form with the Cricket World Cup in India around the corner.
It’s true that there are still four matches remaining in the current series, but – taking the T20 series whitewash into account – they’ve now lost four on the trot within the space of the week.
Asked to bat first on an uncharacteristically slow Mangaung Oval surface, the Proteas were indebted to Bavuma, whose magnificent, unbeaten 114 underpinned a battling total of 222.
He became only the second South African after Herschelle Gibbs in 2000 to carry his bat in a completed ODI innings.
However, despite the very clear example of the disciplined Aussie attack on how to bowl on that pitch, South Africa lacked nuance and consistency with the ball.
“In terms of the way we bowled, it’s no secret that the way we went about things in the first 10 overs wasn’t great,” said Bavuma, referring to the fact that his bowlers leaked 69 runs in the first power-play.
“While we were able to get [four] wickets, it came at a cost that never really gave us the opportunity to keep the game under control, especially since we didn’t have the runs to play with as well.
“The way the Australian batters were able to free their arms and hands while batting – when they allowed us nothing when bowling – also wasn’t part of the plan. It’s an execution thing.”
READ | Methodical Marnus trumps terrific Temba as Aussies down Proteas in bizarre first ODI
Still, the encouragingly dynamic duo of Kagiso Rabada and Gerald Coetzee bowled with enough fire and incisiveness to mastermind the Australians’ slump to 113/7 in the 17th over. It provided a golden opportunity to crack open the visitors’ admittedly deep batting order.
Coetzee’s castling off Alex Carey with a cracker that angled away off a fuller length (as well as a passionate celebration) was particularly reminiscent of a certain Dale Steyn.
Nonetheless, the killer blow never came.
“If you get the opposition into a position like that, you definitely expect yourself to clean up the game,” said Bavuma.
“We always speak about being relentless when you’re given a sniff against a team of this calibre. You’ve got to take it. If the roles were reversed, the Aussies would’ve prided themselves on getting the job done.
“It’s definitely disappointing, but I suppose we should take some confidence from getting them into that position in the first place.”
Perhaps armed with the optimism that a few of his key team-mates don’t have much game time under their belts recently, Bavuma isn’t wary of a losing groove setting in.
“We’ve lost one ODI. I don’t take the T20s into account because it’s a different format and a different team. It won’t serve me any use to reference what happened in that series,” he said.
“As a group, we know we simply weren’t good enough and we need to improve holistically. I’m not sure of any psychological spiralling. After today, we’ll have a good look at our game and be better.”
Saturday’s second ODI at the selfsame Mangaung Oval starts at 13:00.