Times Media
TELFORD VICE, Johannesburg
Dale Steyn and Faf du Plessis hamstrung, just nine balls remaining when Bangladesh A’s measly total of 116 was passed, and that with only five wickets standing - the bare bones of the story of SA’s first warm-up match in Fatullah on Tuesday for the World T20 would have made make their supporters wonder whether the campaign was over before it has begun.
Not so fast, Farhaan Behardien told reporters in Bangladesh after that match: “We’re perceived as not playing the conditions well in the subcontinent, but we have the two best batsmen in the world - Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers - the best finishers - David Miller and Albie Morkel - and the two best bowlers - Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn. There’s no reason why we can’t lift the trophy.”
After SA’s thumping win over Pakistan at the same venue yesterday, by eight wickets with six overs to spare, Behardien looks like a prophet.
SA might ask him to find out whether Du Plessis and Steyn will be fighting fit for their first group match against Sri Lanka in Chittagong on Saturday. Du Plessis has spent both warm-up games in the dugout resting a tender hamstring. Steyn stalked off the field with the same problem after bowling 14 balls on Tuesday and missed yesterday’s match.
Steyn, Cricket SA said yesterday, had “mildly aggravated” the injury he sustained during the third test against Australia at Newlands two weeks ago. Du Plessis’ chances of leading his team on Saturday were pegged at “50-50”.
Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Morne Morkel and JP Duminy went for less than a run a ball and took six wickets between them on Tuesday. Wayne Parnell, Imran Tahir and Aaron Phangiso took one each, but were expensive.
Yesterday, Tsotsobe, Parnell and Beuran Hendricks claimed two wickets each as Pakistan were dismissed for 71 in 17.3 overs. Parnell and Hendricks took 2/2 and 2/3 respectively.
Against Bangladesh A, SA lost Quinton de Kock, De Villiers, Amla and Miller with a scant 48 runs scored before Behardien shared steadying stands of 49 and 35 with Duminy and Albie Morkel to seal the win.
SA’s top four - Amla, De Kock, Miller and De Villiers - all reached double figures yesterday. As importantly, they faced around 20 balls each.
“We gave each other confidence,” Behardien said of his partnership with Duminy on Tuesday. “He didn’t feel alone. He thanked me after the game and I thanked him. At times you can feel alone out there; you’re alone with your thoughts and you can think stupid things.”
Behardien, who was not required to bat yesterday, scored an unbeaten 36 against Bangladesh A - a far cry from the three runs he managed in as many innings in SA’s one-day series in Sri Lanka last July.
“The last time I was in the subcontinent it was a tough tour for me,” he said. “I’ve laid a few demons to rest, but I was nervous out there. Flashbacks to Sri Lanka last year came back to me.”
The WT20 promises to be similarly challenging for Behardien, but he will be satisfied that he has cleared the first hurdle.
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