Africa-Press – South-Africa. Proteas ODI captain Temba Bavuma said Heinrich Klaasen’s explosive century in the third ODI against the West Indies in Potchefstroom on Tuesday breathed life into the way they’re trying to play their cricket.
Klaasen’s 61-ball 119* turned what were positions of significant vulnerability – 73/3, 87/4 and 142/5 – into a Sunday afternoon stroll of a chase.
South Africa passed their target of 261 in 29.3 overs, leaving the visitors bewildered and the hosts more than chuffed.
The hosts batted with the same vigour in the second ODI in East London, but with four debutants and a tall chase of 336, the outcome was rather different.
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Bavuma, who missed Tuesday’s third ODI with hamstring discomfort sustained through his regal 144 at Buffalo Park on Saturday, says they want to copy Klaasen’s batting DNA and apply it in different conditions.
“Klaasen batted beautifully and the way he went about his business speaks to how we want to play our cricket,” Bavuma said.
“The manner in which he batted breathed life in terms of what we’ve been talking about. As a captain, I’ve tried to show the example of how we want to play.
“In this game, Klaasen showed what we want to do on a consistent basis, but it’s important that we grow through such games and the other games that’ll come our way.
“We need to be able to play like this in other conditions.”
Bavuma feels they’ve taken a few steps forward in terms of getting to where they want to be a playing group.
The Proteas have won three of their five ODIs this year, but still have two crucial ones against the Netherlands on 31 March and 2 April that’ll determine whether they qualify directly for the World Cup or they go to Zimbabwe.
Bavuma says Klaasen’s batting also displayed the confidence they have in their batting and hopes it built confidence in the public with regards to how they’re perceived as a team.
“We’ve taken a few steps towards what perfect would look like for us,” Bavuma said.
“We know there’s still a learning process that we still need to go through because we’re going to come up against different opposition in different conditions which we’ll have to adapt to.
“We’ve shown in the last two games against the West Indies and the three games against England that we have confidence in refining our brand.
“Watching on the sidelines, it felt like a watershed moment for us as a team because we’ve been talking about how we want to play.
“There have been moments, but when a guy goes out and plays like that, it really builds the belief and confidence.
“I also hope it builds the belief and trust in people who are watching us as a team.”
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