“If guys think they can make excuses for today they will be challenged.” - Faf du Plessis
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TELFORD VICE at The Oval
ANOTHER day, another hiding. England are a fine team, capable of beating any opponents. But Bangladesh?
South Africa, still smarting from going down by 104 runs to the home side at the Oval on Thursday, returned to the scene of the crime on Sunday and ended up on the wrong side of a record-breaking performance.
Bangladesh’s 330/6 was their highest total in the 363 one-day internationals they have yet played: more than they have made against the likes Bermuda, Canada, Hong Kong and Kenya.
South Africa replied with 309/8, an innings of so much unfinished business it should apply for bankruptcy.
“Gutted,” was how Faf du Plessis described his mood. His players were in for stronger language than that: “There’s always time for harsh words. I’m not a nice guy.
“If guys think they can make excuses for today they will be challenged.”
The South Africans seemed flat and listless throughout, not helped by Lungi Ngidi being limited to four overs by a hamstring injury.
That was the last thing Du Plessis needed, coming on top of the shoulder problem that has kept Dale Steyn out of both games and the head injury that took Hashim Amla out of yesterday’s match — and let’s not forget that Anrich Nortjé and his broken thumb didn’t make it onto the flight out of the country.
And things won’t get easier for them: India loom in Southampton on Wednesday.
Amla should be back for that game but Ngidi will be out for up to 10 days. Steyn will be assessed before Wednesday.
An over-reliance on the short ball and messy fielding did South Africa no favours yesterday. The Bangladeshis didn’t need a second invitation to exploit those failings, with Tamim Iqbal and Soumya Sarkar rattling up 60 inside nine overs for the first wicket.
Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim added 142 for the third, and Mahmudullah and Mosaddek Hossain put on 66 for the sixth.
Shakib’s 75, Mushfiqur’s 78 and Mahmudullah’s 33-ball unbeaten 46 were the pick of their efforts, but the narrative of the innings was Bangladesh’s composure in the face of South Africa’s attempts at hostility.
Not for the Asians the frailties previous sides from their country have shown in the face of the short stuff, especially outside of their home conditions.
There was an impressive confidence about their response to South Africa’s approach, exemplified by Shakib pivoting slickly to swing a Chris Morris bouncer through fine leg for the boundary that brought up his 50.
Among South Africa’s seamers, only Andile Phehlukwayo didn’t try to succeed through aggression.
His reward was the wickets of Tamim and Mushfiqur and an economy rate of 5.2 — the best of the bunch.
Imran Tahir celebrated his 100th one-day international by bowling Shakib and Mohammad Mithun.
Of the rest of the attack, only Kagiso Rabada was able to keep the damage to under a run a ball.
Quinton de Kock and Aiden Markram looked to be building a solid start to South Africa’s reply, but in the 10th over De Kock declined a single only to see Markram keep on coming and then hesitate.
De Kock turned too late and was well out of his ground when a throw from Mushfiqur, who had ditched a wicketkeeping glove and chased down the ball, hit the stumps.
It turned out to be that kind of innings for South Africa, strewn with false starts and unfinished business.
Markram’s 45 was a decent effort but it should have been bigger. Likewise David Miller, Rassie van der Dussen and JP Duminy and their scores of 38, 41 and 45.
Du Plessis looked in complete control for his 62, which was ended when he swiped clumsily at Mehidy Hasan Miraz and was properly bowled.
Size matters, and South Africa’s batters weren’t big enough when it mattered most.
Now, they look smaller than ever — and they are shrinking fast.
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