AB looking for a better start with the ball
South Africa's stand-in T20 captain AB de Villiers wants them to start better with the ball in the second T20 against New Zealand in Centurion on Sunday.
De Villiers was speaking after the Proteas comfortably beat the Black Caps by six wickets in Durban on Friday after chasing a modest total of 152 for victory.
The home side though did not get off to a good start after De Villiers won the toss and chose to field. The Kiwis raced to 65 without loss in the first seven overs.
It was only the introduction of spinner Aaron Phangiso and medium-pacer David Wiese after the six-over powerplay that the Proteas regained control of the innings and subsequently the match. The tourists eventually only scored 151 for eight in their 20 overs.
De Villiers said: "It's an area we will discuss again – the first six overs because we are not as good as we wanted to be there. We wanted to be a little more aggressive.
"A couple balls were maybe a little bit too full, which is not a bad thing, but you also want to see the aggression. We slowed the game down and turned the momentum around and then ran with it.
"All the seamers who came back for their second spells bowled really well. We mixed it up exceptionally well. The last 15 overs of our bowling performance was near perfect."
After the second and final T20 match on Sunday, the teams will contest a three-match ODI series.
Latest
-
England
On this day in 2018: Kevin Pietersen retires from professional cricket
The latter years of the Pietermaritzburg-born maverick’s career were spent on the T20 circuit.
-
England
Jofra Archer snaps off stump on impressive return from injury in India
The 28-year-old took two for 22 in seven overs.
-
County Cricket
Darren Gough steps down as managing director of cricket at Yorkshire
Gough said it was the “right time” to move on having been in the post since December 2021.
-
England
On this day in 2004: Steve Harmison takes seven for 12 against West Indies
The pace bowler produced a devastating spell at Sabina Park 20 years ago.
-
England
Jos Buttler feels refreshed and ready to enjoy ‘best years’ of his career
England’s white-ball team endured a poor 2023 which culminated in the disastrous defence of their World Cup crown in India.
-
England
Jos Buttler confident ‘special cricketer’ Jofra Archer will be fit for World Cup
Archer has not represented his country since last March when he featured in a T20 match in Bangladesh.
-
Indian Premier League
England batter Harry Brook withdraws from IPL following death of his grandmother
Brook pulled out of England’s five-Test tour to India before the squad flew out from their training camp in the United Arab Emirates.