Proteas allrounder Andile Phehlukwayo was the unexpected hero in their six-wicket win over Australia in the first ODI last weekend.
Surrounded by world-class seamers in Dale Steyn and Kagiso Rabada, while Lungi Ngidi is one of the rising stars of world cricket, it was Phehlukwayo that proved that he is a more than useful fourth seamer, bagging 3/33 as South Africa bowled out their hosts for 152.
He was the most expensive bowler of the lot, going at 5.5 runs per over.
But heading into Friday’s second ODI against the Baggy Greens at the Adelaide Oval, Phelukhwayo and his teammates are building towards the perfect game.
He explains: “We are really confident - the guys are working really hard.
TALENTED: Kagiso Rabada. Photo: FRIKKIE KAPP/BACKPAGEPIX
“We’re doing that extra bit... as a team we pride ourselves on working hard and hopefully the results can take care of itself because of the hard work.”
Of his performance in the first ODI, he says: “The wicket was seamer friendly and the frontline seamers did well to put pressure on top-order batters.”
The 22-year-old credits frontline bowlers Steyn and Rabada for helping him up to his game.
He adds: “It’s a massive privilege to play alongside them.
“They force you to be at the level they are at.
“If any individual had to come in and bowl with those guys, they would learn a helluva lot.
"It’s always good to bowl in tandem with those guys and you learn a lot from them.”
Phelukhwayo also believes Australian cricket will recover from the current bad patch they find themselves in.
WORLD CLASS: Dale Steyn. Photo: RICHARD WAINWRIGHT/EPA
Having lost experienced leaders Steve Smith and Dave Warner after the ball-tampering scandal, Aussie cricket has been hit with continuous off-field drama and that has led to poor performance on-field.
But Phelukhwayo says: “Every team goes through bad patches - at any stage, they will come back. They will get out of it.”