In the end, South Africa averted a swift defeat in an ICC Men's T20 World Cup league match against a Sri Lankan outfit in Sharjah on Saturday. It was almost as if South Africa was embracing navigational errors making up for defeat with the certainty of kites drawn to fire.
The slide was being engineered by the hardworking Sri Lankan bowlers, most notably leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga who sent back skipper Temba Bavuma and Dwayne Pretorius in his final over. The suffocating scepter, a familiar presence around South African sides since the 1999 World Cup semi-final at Edgbaston, Birmingham, was re-emerging.
It is an unwanted intruder, no doubt, but hard as South Africans try to keep the word out of their minds, there are innumerable reminders that they are served by all and sundry. David Miller and Kagiso Rabada had to stay focused on the task of scoring 28 runs in the last two overs instead of letting the disappointing thoughts pass through with their thoughts.
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Many years later, it is possible that South African players will look back in time and recognize this match as a turning point. It certainly has the potential to be one, as it has come in situations that were challenging, to say the least. Wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock was returning to the XI after a match as he did not join the squad after taking a knee.
The credit for this goes to Bavuma's polity that he didn't allow too much tension to get a seat in the dressing room. It was with skillful moves that he did not step on the landmines after the match against the West Indies, leaving de Kock out. The honest manner in which he addressed the question left no one in doubt that he was a capable leader.
Respecting de Kock's decision to sit out of an important match and turn his shoulder to the senior cricketer, Bavuma had largely eased the situation rather than fueling a tumultuous debate over the division of racism in the team. . There were important things at hand, like winning a cricket match, but keeping the herd together was an integral part of that.
Driven by Rabada's six in the final over, Miller dug deep into his store of faith to hit two sixes in the final over. AP
The challenge of putting a team together from Rainbow Nation should be bigger than deciding on bowling changes, field placements and batting order. And Bavuma was equal to the task. If he can keep up with the good work he has done in the last week, he can certainly hope to propel the team to victory over England and reach the semi-finals.
While chasing the target, Bavuma extended his lead on the pitch. Going two for 26, he was involved in the mix with Rassie van der Dussen when it looked like they were both taking charge. He swung in to play a key role during the repair work with Aiden Markram, showing a great understanding of match conditions and ground conditions.
The sluggish Sharjah Cricket Stadium pitch was not the most conducive for strokeplay and teams had to adapt to bring forth smart batting instead of adopting the typical T20 approach. The tracks in the competition's smallest arenas have turned creative artists into careful craftsmen.
