In the 3rd ODI at the Sharjah cricket stadium, South Africa’s cricket team was under a lot of pressure as Afghanistan was almost close to register the historic series sweep against the Proteas. Nevertheless, the hosts would not surrender and fought hard to level the game, thereby winning dramatically by 7 wickets thereby denying the opposition a sweep of the series. Here are three important factors that led to their revival and how they escaped a demeaning series washout.
Clinical Batting Display
It should also be noted that the Proteas’ batting attack, which has been a weakness for the entire series, showed signs of life in the 3rd ODI. Tony de Zorzi and Temba Bavuma have set the proper platform and have put in the hard work necessary to build the innings for the team. The middle order batsmen specifically Aiden Markram and Tristan Stubbs stayed unbeaten and were tremendous with 69 runs in 67 balls and 26 runs in 42 balls for valuable addition and never let Proteas break in the chase.
Afghanistan’s Bowling Woes
Great Captaincy by Temba Bavuma
The outstanding captain, Temba Bavuma, was so influential in the way South Africa staged the great comeback. At the same, he showed some brilliance in the field, especially when using his bowlers as well as selecting right positions for his fielders. Bavuma also managed his bowlers well, frequently changing them and making sure that they did not brake their back during the match. His captaincy was visible in the way he managed the spirits of his teammates throughout the innings when the team was losing wickets. His relaxation gave fruits as his side easily secured the target of the day.
In the end, the Proteas’ batsmen exhibited great nerve to clinch the victory. There was still tension when the team was hovering at a low score of 170-3; Markram and Stubbs showcased their skills to push the team over the line. Both the batsmen were positive in their approach, using the ‘Saree’ shot to good effect and crossing the bowler at appropriate moments.This continuous combination benefited in consolidating the triumph and the Proteas fan base had to heave a sigh of relief after they were saved from being washed out.Markram and Stubbs combined to take the team across the finish line. The two batsmen displayed calm heads, rotating the strike and finding boundaries when needed. Their unbroken partnership helped to seal the victory, as the Proteas’ fans breathed a sigh of relief at avoiding an embarrassing whitewash. On the other hand, the Afghan batsmen had failed to apply the pressure throughout the series which proved very costly for them.