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I have a bedside lamp that, from time to time, will just start flickering all by itself. Ghost perhaps? More than likely a lose wire. But, this lamp is the epitome of the Proteas Cricket World Cup performance to date – burning brightly then a flicker before burning brightly again.
The Proteas opened their World Cup campaign with a 102-run victory over Sri Lanka in which they amassed 428-5. Quinton de Kock, Rassie van der Dussen and Aiden Markram all struck centuries – a first for a cricket world cup match.
Markram’s ton came off just 49 balls, the fastest world cup century in the history of the game, beating Kevin O’Brien’s 50 balls against England in 2011.
The 400-run mark has only been surpassed on five occasions of which the Proteas have three to their name, against Sri Lanka in this tournament and then against Ireland and the West Indies in 2015.
Temba Bavuma’s men (also Markram while Bavuma is ill) then crushed Australia by 134 runs in which De Kock registered his second-consecutive ton.
Then the light flickered! In a rain-affected match in Dharmsala, the Netherland managed to post 245-8 after having being reduced to 82-5 and then 140-7, thanks to a brilliant unbeaten 78 from captain Scott Edwards, who was actually born in Tonga!
The Proteas then floundered, being bowled out for just 207 in 42.5 overs of the 43 overs available to hand the Dutch a valuable and memorable 38-run victory. It’s not the first time the Proteas have floundered against the men in Orange in an ICC event, winning by 13 runs during the T20 World Cup in Australia last year.
Not to take anything away from the Netherlands, but they have a host of South Africans in their squad. Roelof van der Merwe, who grabbed two wickets in quick succession, Colin Ackermann, SA Engelbrecht and not to mention Heino Kuhn in the coaches box.
How would this setback affect Rob Walter’s men? It didn’t!
The Proteas roared back to life with a commanding 229-run victory on Saturday – the same day the Springboks beat England in the Rugby World Cup semi final – to pound misery into the English sporting fans.
Reeza Hendricks, in for the ill Bavuma, scored 85 at more than a run a ball while Van der Dussen registered another half-century. But the highlights of the day came from the bats of Heinrich Klaasen and Marco Jansen.
Klaasen, suffering from extreme heat exhaustion, clubbed 12 fours and four maximums on his way to 109 from just 67 balls while Jansen scored his maiden ODI fifty, ending unbeaten on 75 from just 42 deliveries, and innings that included three fours and six maximums.
With the Proteas having posted 399-7, the task seemed just too much for the defending champions as they were bundled out for just 170.
And tonight, the Proteas continued on their merry-bashing way as they thumped Bangladesh by 149 runs to move second on the log, behind the unbeaten hosts, India.
De Kock scored his third century of the tournament, scoring 174 from 140 balls while Markam (60) and Klaasen (90) clubbed nine fours and eights sixes between them. David Miller also added some much needed firepower at the end of the innings, smashing one four and four sixes from just 15 balls to end unbeaten on 34.
Despite a century from Mahmudullah (111), the 382-5 from the Proteas was just too much as the Tigers were humbled for 233.
In an earlier post, I stated the Proteas Top 6 would be key to their success, and they have proven that so far – although question marks still hang over their heads when chasing – but to all intents and purposes, they have stuck to their task and produced the goods.
My worry was for the bowlers (Read: Batsmen or Bust for the Proteas). Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Jansen and Co, have not had the greatest of times and seem to flounder when the batsmen don’t perform.
We’ve seen in recent games, like Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, that they tend to tail off at the end of an innings yet they need to be more ruthless like they were against Australia and England.
If the Proteas batsmen and bowlers can work in tandem, then this World Cup is theirs to lose. They came into this world cup under the radar, yet they have increased their status to be serious contenders.
They still have to play India and New Zealand, and these will be true tests of their chances, especially against India on their home turf, and even a loss to either of these teams, does not bring their tournament to a crashing halt, as they will face them in the semi final and possible final.
Could this be the year where the Proteas make their first World Cup final and possibly their first major title? Could this be the year in which the Springboks become the most successful team in Rugby World Cup history by lifting the title for the 4th time – as well as defend their title?
Will this be a double-whammy for the South Africa or will it turn out to be a complete bust on both fronts?
Let’s just hope that the next flickering lamp occurs before the knock-out phase of this tournament – otherwise, it will be another feather in that dreaded (Batsmen or Bust) choking cap!
