Advertisement

Career-best Bavuma ton not enough for Proteas

cricket18 March 2023 19:46| © MWP
Share

Proteas captain Temba Bavuma’s magnificent 144 from 118 balls (11x4, 7x6), his fourth ODI century, wasn’t enough as South Africa finished on 281/7 from 41.4 overs, failing by 48 runs to chase the 335 target set by the West Indies at Buffalo Park in East London, in the second Betway ODI.

Bavuma’s innings, the second highest in an ODI at Buffalo Park behind West Indian Shivnaraine Chanderpaul’s 150 in 1998/99, gave the Proteas hope after they had slumped from 200/4 to 238/8 as the middle- and lower-order batsmen threw wickets away with some poor shot selection.

Bavuma and Quinton de Kock got the innings off to a quick-fire start reaching fifty in 36 balls,

De Kock was in fine form as he raced to 48 from 26 balls (5x4, 3x6), but he perished just before the first powerplay ended.

The first-wicket partnership raised 76 runs, the powerplay 78, and the Proteas were well ahead of the required run rate.

Ryan Rickleton, making his debut, contributed 14 but shared a second-wicket stand of 47 with Bavuma and Tony de Zorzi, another debutant, looked good for his 27, adding 61 for the third wicket.

But once South Africa reached 200, the innings stuttered and never recovered.

Rassie van der Dussen (8), Tristan Stubbs (6), Marco Jansen (17), Bjorn Fortuin (1) and Gerald Coetzee (1) started a procession back to the dressing room and at 238/8, it looked as though the West Indies would finish matters quickly.

However, a ninth-wicket partnership of 49 between Lungi Ngidi (12*) and Bavuma, the best ninth-wicket partnership at East London in an ODI, kept the flame of hope burning.

Alzarri Joseph delivered the killer blow when he induced Bavuma to glove a rising ball on the leg side to keeper Shai Hope with the score on 287.

This was the ninth wicket to fall and last man in Tabraiz Shamsi lasted only two balls as the innings was wrapped up.

During the course of his innings, Bavuma passed 1 000 ODI runs when he reached 90. His century came from 92 balls and he was given a life when dropped by Rovman Powell offspinner Akeal Hosein on the deep mid-wicket fence when on 108.

Joseph (3-53) in 8.4 overs and Hosein (3-59) in 10, were the best of the West Indian bowlers. Kyle Mayers, Yannic Cariah and Odean Smith took a wicket apiece.

WINDIES RELY ON HOPE

Earlier, the West Indies, who opted to bat after calling correctly, posted a strong 335/8, thanks to a superb, undefeated 128 from 115 balls (5x4, 7x6) from captain Shai Hope.

There were solid contributions from Brandon King (30), Mayers (36), Nicholas Pooran (39) and Rovman Powell (46) as the Protea bowlers struggled with inconsistent line and length early on.

Speedster Gerald Coetzee, one of four Protea debutants, took 3-57 in his 10 overs, while spinners Shamzi (2-62) and Fortuin (2-57) were next best in their 10 overs.

It was hard work for the Protea bowlers, Lungi Ngidi going wicketless in his 10 overs in giving away 76 runs and Marco Jansen claimed a single victim in his full spell for 774 runs.

This was only the sixth time in ODI history that the captains of each side had scored a century in the same match.

Hope, who was Man of the Match, was pleased with his team’s effort. “This was a good performance with bat and ball and a move forward. We have to forget what has happened in the past as each match is a new beginning. There is still a match to go in the series and we are not home yet,” he said.

Bavuma always believed he could produce some magic, even while batting with the tailenders but looked forward to beefing up his team for Tuesday’s third and final ODI in Potchefstroom.

“It was a young team but I always believed we could get close if we had a couple of strong overs. Unfortunately I got out but we look forward to welcoming back Aidan Markram, David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen for the next match,” he said.

SOUTH AFRICA: Quinton de Kock (wk), Temba Bavuma (capt), Ryan Rickelton, Tony De Zorzi, Rassie van der Dussen, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Bjorn Fortuin, Gerald Coetzee, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi

WEST INDIES: Kyle Mayers, Brandon King, Shamarh Brooks, Shai Hope (capt, wk), Nicholas Pooran, Rovman Powell, Jason Holder, Odean Smith, Yannick Cariah, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph

Advertisement