South Africa batsmen can overcome India's spin challenge, feels Farhaan Behardien
Farhaan Behardien feels South Africa batsmen can overcome India's spin challenge. Photo by: Ron Gaunt / BCCI / SPORTZPICS

All-rounder Farhaan Behardien feels that his side the capability to win the series decider against India at Cape Town. Meanwhile, the series is now at 1-1 with host South Africa coming back to level the series.

Speaking to the media ahead of the series decider, Behardien pointed out the importance of playing against a star-studded team like India. Further, he hoped that Cape Town people will turn up in huge numbers to support them.

Fighting tooth and nail:

The low-profile all-rounder admitted that it’s like a final and they are looking forward to it.

It is another chance to play against a top side,” Behardien said. “Hopefully, it will be some experience going forward to Sri Lanka, to next summer, leading into the World Cup. Another game to play, it’s like a final, a chance to win the series against a strong side. We are really looking forward to it. Playing in the game alone is an experience. We took learnings from Johannesburg and we have applied that in Centurion. South Africa are playing against a strong outfit but we have a plan. We will be fighting tooth and nail to win tomorrow,” he added.

Sourav Ganguly, South Africa vs India 2018, Twenty20 Internationals, Centurion, Cape Town
Photo Credit: BCCI.

Klaasen has come a long way:

Heinrich Klaasen played a magnificent knock of 69 runs off just 30 balls in the last encounter. Although, he departed before South Africa scored the winning runs, but he took his close to the target. Klaasen ripped off India’s leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal taking 41 runs from his 12 deliveries.

Read More  RCB Playing 11 vs KKR- IPL 2024, Match 10

Behardien applauded Klassen’s knock and admitted that they were not surprised to see him bat like that. Stating that he has done this for Titans for a long time, Behardien feels Mark Boucher had an influence on him.

He has come from a long line of players graduated from Tukkies institute,” Behardien said. “Klaasen has played a lot of varsity cricket and has played a lot of tournaments varsity style. He has played for Titans for a long time, been successful and has built his character around that. He normally used to bat in the middle order, but now for the Titans, with our middle order strong with me, Albie [Morkel] and Chris Morris, he normally goes in at four which gives him a lot more responsibilityHe is a hard character, he is a competitor and wants to play for a long time,” Behardien added.

South Africa batsmen can overcome India's spin challenge, feels Farhaan Behardien
(Photo credit should read CHRISTIAAN KOTZE/AFP/Getty Images)

Batsmen have a different mindset going into T20Is:

Meanwhile, Kuldeep Yadav was one of the main reason behind South Africa’s loss in the ODI. So far, he has not featured in the T20Is. However, it is likely that Kuldeep will replace Chahal in the final game of the tour.

But for Behardien, it won’t make much of a difference. Further, he feels that this format has seen a change in the mindset of the batsmen.

In the battle across the board, he took that ascendancy. I am not sure if we struggled to pick him, I mean, I think his pace has been good and he has bowled a bit slower, not many bowlers in our country bowl that slow. Wickets are quite good here so our spinners bowl with flatter pace on the ball. But, like I said, our batsmen have a different mindset going into T20 cricket. It is down to us to get that ascendancy back from the ODI series. I believe we will play him better. We have to see what he can offer and in the T20s,” Behardien said ahead of the final game.

Also, the all-rounder revealed that 160-180 is a good score on this ground with the pitch something to offer. The pitch here is a bit different from Johannesburg as the balls travel a bit slower. In conclusion, Behardien admitted:

A mishap here and there from India, and it can be our game.”

Further, here is the newsfeed:

Read More  Virat Kohli chasing a massive milestone as he steps on the field vs Gautam Gambhir's KKR

Shiv Sena condemns Kapil Sharma for performing in Peshawar Zalmi’s show

Graeme Smith rates Virat Kohli as the ‘Best’ in the World

Nagpur to host WWC finalist India and England for 3 ODIs

 

 

I am an accountant by qualification, my parents thought their obedient son would study further to become a CA, but I had other things in mind. An ardent Cricket fan is following his passion and making...