The most impressive player to come out of the warm-up game between England and an SA Invitational XI was fast bowler Junior Dala.
The three-day game in Potchefstroom ended in a draw on Thursday with the SA XI on 5-0 after a thunder storm ended play early.
Dala took 5-34 in 12 overs in England’s second innings as the touring side was bowled out for 190. Joe Root top-scored with 39 and Alastair Cook made 37.
He ended with match figures of 6-81 after taking 1-47 in the first innings. Dala made headlines on Wednesday after he removed opener Alex Hales for a second time in the match and claimed the batsman was ‘under pressure’ ahead of the Test series against South Africa.
Dala, born in Lusaka, Zambia, turns 26 in a week and while he was part of the Titans squad who won the Ram Slam T20 title this season, his performance in Potchefstroom against a strong England team will surely rank as a highlight.
His domestic bowling statistics is nothing to write home about, but the South African pace attack will no doubt take note of the problems he caused England, specifically Hales, who seems susceptible to deliveries swinging into him.
The 19-year-old Andile Phehlukwayo of the Dolphins also impressed in the second innings by claiming 3-36.
Picture: Getty Images
