SA vs IND, 1st T20I: JP Duminy Rues Batting Failure After Johannesburg Defeat

Even a change in format could not help South Africa’s cause. Batting failures was the constant feature for them in the ODIs and the problem persisted in the first T20I too.

Not once in the ODIs did the Proteas look convincing with the bat. As a result, India steamrolled them 5-1 to win their first-ever bilateral series in the rainbow nation. The story remained pretty much similar in the T20I series-opener too.

After the bowlers ended up conceding 203 runs on a batting-friendly wicket, the batsmen failed to live up to the occasion. Considering the pitch, the Proteas were expected to give India a run for their money. However, barring a short spell when Reeza Hendricks and Farhaan Behardien were batting, the hosts never looked in contention. They eventually managed to put up 175 for 9, thus losing the game by 28 runs.

Speaking after the game, Duminy insisted that the score was a decent one before ruing the batting failure.

“I thought it was a decent total to chase down, especially at this venue. They were 100 after 8 overs, so at that point you’re looking at probably 220 or 240, and I thought the way the guys came back was exceptional,” Duminy said in the post-match press conference.

“I was pretty happy with chasing 204. Unfortunately from batting perspective – that’s been our achilles heel throughout this Indian tour in the short format. As players and as senior batters we have to take responsibility for that, we’ve got to look ourselves in the mirror, ask how we can improve and get better. Hopefully that improves come Wednesday,” he added.

The skipper further said that he had no complaints with the way his bowlers performed.  India started the proceedings by hammering 18 runs in the very first over. And they continued to torment the Proteas throughout and were 78 for 2 at the end of the powerplay. India eventually posted a formidable total of 203 for 5 in the allotted 20 overs.

Duminy, however, was not unhappy with the amount of runs his team conceded. Instead, he was happy that the bowlers managed to get two wickets in the powerplay.

“The plan was to try and take wickets. I was happy if they had 60 or 70 after six overs if we at least had two or three wickets down. I felt if we were in that position, we were in a strong position, especially at a venue like this. I wasn’t too unhappy, the mindset and plan was an aggressive one which was to try and take wickets and with that, there are going to be times when you leak a few boundaries,” Duminy opined.

South Africa looked down and out after being reduced to 48 for 3 with Duminy and David Miller gone. However, an 81-run stand between Hendricks and Behardien revived their slim hopes.  But the challenge eventually fizzled out when Yuzvendra Chahal dismissed Behardien on the last ball of the 15th over.

The duo were praised by the skipper.

“They [Hendricks and Behardien] gave us a chance in the game. Especially in this format, with wickets in hand you give yourself the best chance to win the game. Unfortunately, in an ideal world it would have been nice to extend that partnership. You look at the situation of the game we needed 14-15 an over so they needed to up the ante and take the game forward, unfortunately it never came off. But I was very proud about the way they went about it,” he said.

“To see Reeza, who’s played a handful of games, play under pressure was exceptional. Those are the kinds of positives to take out of it and us as teammates want to feed off that positiveness. Hopefully we take that into the next game,” Duminy added.

Here is the news feed:

Suresh Raina Enjoys His Time with Teammates After Convincing Victory in 1st T20I

Virender Sehwag Lauds Team for a Thumping Start to Their T20I Campaign in the Rainbow Nation