With their first clinical performance coming versus Sri Lanka, at a time when they have been already eliminated, the 34-year-old skipper Faf du Plessis revealed the side that took the wind out of their sails. In the post-match presentation following a 9-wicket win at Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street, Faf pointed out, “I think Bangladesh was the one that really took the wind out of our sails. England are a very good team and they were too good for us on that day. Bangladesh played an unbelievably good game and that sucker punched us and we almost took the hangover of that game into the next game. The first week really put us back, but we knew that was the case and we can’t hide from that.”
In the Bangladesh versus South Africa clash, the subcontinental side compiled a mammoth 330 for 6 riding on half-centuries from Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim. In reply, South Africa crossed the 300-run mark but none converted their starts to take the side home. As a result, they lost by 21 runs at Kennington Oval, London on June 2.
Reflecting on the latest win, Faf added, “It was a good game and we did ourselves justice in all three departments for the talent we have in the dressing room. We’ve been trying to get (Dwaine) Pretorius in but the combinations were really tough, so today he came in place of Lungi and did a very, very good job. We didn’t start well once again. The nature of the wicket told me that we needed to bowl straight lines, consistent top-of-off lines. It looked like the kind of wicket that would be tough with consistent lines and length and that is why I brought Andile (Phehlukwayo) on early. We’ve batted well all through the tournament, but we just didn’t have guys batting through. Hashim (Amla) gave us a good foundation, one big partnership makes it look so much easier. We hadn’t done that consistently in the tournament.”
South Africa asked Sri Lanka to bat first and dismissed skipper Dimuth Karunaratne on the very first delivery of the contest. From thereon, Pretorius and Chris Morris’ combined show bundled out the Lankans for 203 in 49.3 overs. In response, Faf (96*) and Amla’s (80*) unbeaten 175-run second-wicket stand guided the African nation to a thumping win.
