The Proteas had better improve their batting performances or lose the ODI series in tomorrow’s decider at Newlands (1pm).
The five-match contest with Pakistan is tied at 2-2 and both South African defeats have been down to either a batting collapse or a lack of intensity.
Sunday’s disastrous eight- wicket defeat at the Wanderers saw the Proteas lose eight wickets for 63 runs as they scored just 164 runs.
And skipper Faf du Plessis says his manne must come reg.
Faf explains the Jozi disaster was a combination of an unusual Wanderers wicket after he and Hashim Amla put up 101 runs for the third wicket and excellent Pakistan bowling.
ROOKIE: Rassie van der Dussen. Photo: MUZI NTOMBELA/BACKPAGEPIX
He says: “It was a combination of some very average cricket from us but also good cricket from Pakistan.
“I thought in the end it was a very good toss to win. It was very obvious the way the wicket played. But still, if you lose the toss, you have to make sure you put a more competitive total on the board.”
The 36-year-old puts that down to a lack of consistency, intensity and some new faces finding their feet at international level, with Reeza Hendricks and Rassie van der Dussen failing this time around.
Faf adds: “In the series we lost a couple of wickets up front. So we have to get through that and then the next 40 overs becomes easier.
“From a middle order point of view, it was a combination [of factors]. We spoke about it; about how we had to push harder after Port Elizabeth. If we’re in the situation where we can put our foot on the gas, then we will do it.
SETTLING IN: Reeza Hendricks. Photo: MUZI NTOMBELA/BACKPAGEPIX
“It’s about having the intensity to score more runs.
“You have to have a great body language at the crease, just show that energy to try and score.
“I think it’s that we have a lot of new guys in the team and we aren’t as consistent as we want to be.
“We’ve had games when one or two departments have been very inconsistent. I won’t say it’s a concern. It’s an era of improvement.
“When we do do that we are very competitive.”