Du Plessis savours escape from whitewash
South Africa captain believes win against NZ was good for youngsters’ morale.
File photo of South African cricketer Faf du Plessis. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
South Africa’ narrow one-wicket win over New Zealand in the third and final One-Day International (ODI) was a source of relief for stand-in captain Faf du Plessis after his team avoided a series whitewash in Potchefstroom on Friday.
While Graeme Smith’s century was a big contribution towards the victory, it was Ryan McLaren’s last-ball six that sealed the win when the hosts needed three runs to achieve the 261-run target.
“We needed this as a team – especially as a young team – because a win like this gives us that little bit of extra confidence,” said Du Plessis, according to IOL Sport. “I’m very happy and relieved it went our way, although I didn’t think we played that well and there’s still lots of room for improvement.”
He lamented the way the team had got themselves into a comfortable winning position and then lost too many cheap wickets.
“The New Zealanders are good at squeezing, and they making you feel it, but it’s also good for our guys to feel that pressure in the middle and to learn from it.”
Meanwhile, New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum signed off on a positive note and said they would leave South Africa more knowledgeable on how to compete at the highest level.
“It would have been lovely to have won the series 3-0,” said McCullum. “But it was a great game of cricket and a fantastic game to be involved in.”
Published in The Express Tribune, January 27th, 2013.