Du Plessis: Bowlers didn't stick to the plan

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Cricket365
November 23, 2013

South Africa T20 captain Faf du Plessis said he was disappointed in the way his side bowled in the second match against Pakistan on Friday, as the Proteas lost by six runs after some slack fielding and thus drew the series.

Pakistan recorded 176 for four thanks to half tons from Mohammad Hafeez and Umar Akmal, and the Proteas were only able to make 170 for four, with Sohail Tanvir's death bowling preventing a successful chase.

The home bowlers all went for more than seven to the over, with Morne Morkel and Wayne Parnell expensive up front and Aaron Phangiso going for 33 runs in three overs. There were also many misfields and eight extras.

The skipper, who was dropped for the ODI series, said after the match: "We made a lot of mistakes. I think we were pretty poor today in the field, in the bowling department.

"I am not surprised by the way they batted tonight, they are a dangerous team and we expected them to bat like that earlier in the series, even in Dubai.

"I think there were two free hits of which one went for six, a couple of wides, couple of no balls. I think the game swing was probably about 19 runs and that's way too much in a game like this.

"If you going to play against quality opposition and you start with minus twenty, that's too much.

"That's one thing we've done really well over the last period of time is the fact that we've been smart in our bowling and I thought tonight, bar the last four overs when we brought it back really nicely when we bowled to our plans, I thought, as I said, we were pretty average"

The Proteas' chase actually started quite well, with Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla putting on 58 runs in seven overs for the first wicket. Once they departed though, the pace was not picked up enough, and JP Duminy's 47 not out off 26 balls was insufficient.

Du Plessis added: "In the batting department, once again, a great start from Hash and Quinney and it's really positive to see how well they are playing as a combination.

"It was also nice to see the other guys get a chance with JP and Dave batting well at the end there. I think we planned the chase pretty well, we batted fantastically, I just think that 15 runs was too much on that pitch."