The Proteas slumped to a second Cricket World Cup 2019 defeat after going down by 21 runs to Bangladesh at the Oval. WADE PRETORIUS and JOHN GOLIATH rate the South African players.
Quinton de Kock – 4.5
WP: Tough to judge after his innings was cut short by a comical run-out.
JG: South Africa’s wicket-keeper batsman would have been key in this run chase, but struggled to get going. He eventually lost his wicket following a calamitous run-out. His opening partner Aiden Markram owes him a beer.
Aiden Markram – 5
WP: Was looking good before being bowled by Shakib Al Hasan for 45 (56). The Proteas were desperate for someone to bat through after getting a start. He’s young, but failed with that task as he continues to be handed more and more responsibility in this team. Went for 38 in his five overs.
JG: Markram was forced to turn his arm over following Lungi Ngidi’s hamstring injury and was hammered. Got another start with the bat, but played back to a straight one.
Faf du Plessis – 5
WP: The captain, who made the wrong decision at the toss, was left trying to juggle the fifth bowler allotment after Ngidi’s injury, and it didn’t pay off with Morris going for some tap. The field was also caught in the wrong positions on a few occasions which turned possible catches into boundaries. The best of the batsmen, but out trying to slog Mehidy when maybe he needed to stick around for a little while longer.
JG: Winning the toss and choosing to bowl turned out to be a terrible decision after Bangladesh got off to a flyer and then cashed in on some predictable bowling at the back end. Du Plessis also threw his wicket away after looking so good. Needed to get a century.
David Miller – 4.5
WP: The Miller that many feared would pop up at the World Cup. Steady for his 38 at just less than a run a ball, but instead of launching a match-winning attack, he folded. His critics will grow louder.
JG: Was promoted up the order in his first match of the World Cup. Took his time and wisely played himself in, but he perished playing across the line to a straight one.
Rassie van der Dussen – 5
WP: Like Miller, got out when the foundation was laid. Will learn from these situations, but, and it’s easy to be pessimistic right now, will he be around at the next World Cup? He’s already 30.
JG: The in-form Van der Dussen came in and played nicely alongside Miller. The game was still in the balance when he tried to up the ante, but was another to get out playing across the line.
JP Duminy – 5
WP: Handy with the bat, but left with far, far too much to do. Offered his captain little with his part-time slow bowling after getting just one over (10).
JG: Went for 10 in his one and only over. Came in with a lot to do following Miller’s departure and played really well. However, he lost too many partners along the way as the required run rate steadily got out of hand. Lost his wicket by chopping on a short ball.
Andile Phehlukwayo – 6.5
WP: SA’s best bowler on the day after being the most economical against England. He made the breakthrough and went for just 52 in his 10 overs that even included a maiden. Herculean effort when you consider the carnage that was carrying on around him. He will be furious getting out to a hip-high full toss when he should’ve dispatched that into the crowds.
JG: The all-rounder was again impressive with ball, taking a wicket in his first over after coming on first change. Had a lot to do when he came out to bat, but would be disappointed after hitting a full toss straight to cover.
Chris Morris – 3
WP: 73 in his 10 overs. 10 with the bat. Nothing to add really.
JG: The enigmatic all-rounder started well with the ball and also took a wicket in his first over. However, he took a pasting at the back end after the Bangladesh players started to change gears. Hit a few boundaries, but hit a pie down mid-wicket’s throat.
Kagiso Rabada – 4.5
WP: He was middle of the road against England and below par today (0-57). As the leader of the attack, he went wicketless. 14 off his last over also hurt the cause.
JG: It was a rather average performance from South Africa’s spearhead. Going wicketless when South Africa opted to bowl is very disappointing. Hit a massive six in the final over of the innings, but it’s not his job to get the runs in this team.
Lungi Ngidi – 2
WP: Wasn’t convinced with his display against England – catches in the deep masked his shortcomings – and he was poor today, conceding 34 off his four before limping off. Was tipped by many to shine in England, but he failed to learn the lessons from his first run-out at the Oval and was duly punished.
JG: The big South African quick suffered at the hands of the Bangladesh batsmen and took a beating at the start of the innings.
Imran Tahir – 7
WP: How will South Africa replace Tahir when he hangs up his boots? 0-40 in his first six, he roared back with 2-17. That’s the class of the man, who gave South Africa a chance by pegging Bangladesh back.
JG: The wily leg-spinner was again our best bowler. Got the vital wicket Al Hasan, who was looking dangerous. He also managed to slow down the rate in middle period of the innings.
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