Quinton de Kock believes he messed up an easy win for Proteas, despite South Africa beating Australia inside 70 overs in Sunday’s first ODI.
After SA bowled their hosts out for 152 runs in Perth, the batting line-up got them to the victory target with six wickets in the bank on a surface the Aussies struggled to make runs on.
But De Kock is not happy with his contribution of 47. The left-handed opener feels he could have carried the bat for his side, such was the confidence he showed at the crease.
After laying down a foundation of 94 for the first wicket inside 17 overs with partner Reeza Hendricks, De Kock skyed a Nathan Coulter-Nile delivery for Josh Hazlewood to gratefully snap up.
CAN SWING WILLOW: Coulter-Nile. Photo: RICHARD WAINWRIGHT/EPA
And the world’s eighth-ranked ODI batsman says: “I am a little bit disappointed that I threw my wicket away there. I could have finished off the game.
“We should have won with a minimum of eight wickets left, but I threw my wicket away and I just have to get better for the next game.
“I have played against these guys enough to know the next game can be their game.
“They have a serious bowling line-up at the moment. We can’t take for anything for granted.
“The Aussies are always good at coming back and always fighting.”
Sunday’s Man of the Match, Dale Steyn, though, reckons SA’s ‘relentless’ bowling attack can keep the Baggy Green in check for the rest of the three-match series.
SO HOT RIGHT NOW: Dale Steyn. Photo: FRIKKIE KAPP/BACKPAGEPIX
Ahead of Friday’s second ODI in Adelaide, the 36-year-old says: “We’ve been bowling really well of late and in the first game [you should] hit them with what we’ve got - you know, pace.
“Our bowling - it’s hot. So you go out there and potentially bowl them out cheaply and then chase them down with the bat.”
Asked if he thought that the Aussie batting line-up is weakened without suspended former skipper Steve Smith and David Warner, Steyn says:
“They bat pretty deep. They bat all the way down to [No.9] Coulter-Nile. I think he showed he can bat really well [top-scoring with 34].”