Andile Phehlukwayo reckons that Tuesday night’s match-winning performance was his best yet for the Proteas as he helped level the ODI series with Pakistan.
The Dolphins allrounder lit up his Kingsmead home ground with a top-draw display in the second match of the five-match contest.
After South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis won the toss, the bowlers reduced the visitors to 112/8 with the 22-year-old snagging two of those wickets.
But the Pakistanis got away with skipper Sarfraz Ahmed and Hasan Ali putting on 90 runs for the ninth wicket.
And Phehlukwayo removed them both to finally restrict the Asians to 203. He finished with figures of 4/22 in 9.5 overs.
WON THE TOSS: Faf du Plessis. Photo: BACKPAGEPIX
Then with the Proteas struggling in their run chase at 80/5, the left-hand batsman scored an unbeaten 69 off 80 balls to help Rassie van der Dussen (80* off 123) guide the hosts to tie up the series 1-1.
And Phehlukwayo says: “Personally, I just wanted to be positive.
“Obviously it was a hill to climb, we still needed runs, but the number of balls that we had was quite a lot as well.
“I think without Rassie there, things would have been really tough, but credit goes to him.
“He played an unbelievable knock.
“That was probably the best performance I’ve delivered so far.
“I’m just glad that the hard work I’ve been putting in finally paid off.
“There was a bit of luck, but hopefully I can take that momentum on."
With Pakistan on the ropes at 112/8, the Proteas would have been frustrated that they let their opponents get away the way they did.
GOOD KNOCK: Sarfraz Ahmed. Photo: BACKPAGEPIX
No.10 batsman Ali was the chief party-pooper, smashing 59 off 44 deliveries before Phehlukwayo had him caught going for what would have been his ninth boundary shot.
He says of his strategy: “The wicket gave a bit of assistance.
“I’m not the fastest guy in the team. So I thought if I can get it to nibble off a good length and get the batsman guessing, that’s my strength.
“I thought we bowled really well. "Hasan Ali took away with some magnificent hitting in the end.”