Du Plessis knows he was upstaged by Marsh

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Cricket365
September 3, 2014

Batsman Faf du Plessis admitted South Africa were entirely outgunned by the big-hitting Mitchell Marsh, as Australia secured a convincing 62-run win in Tuesday's tri-series fixture.

Marsh struck a quickfire 86 not out off just 51 deliveries, five fours and all of seven sixes included, as the Aussies romped to a formidable total of 282 for seven at the Harare Sports Club.

The Proteas later slipped to an insufficient 220 all out in 44 overs, despite a fine century from du Plessis, who cherished a three-figure vigil against the same opposition earlier in the tournament too.

"I think if we pinpoint an area where we probably lost the game it was when Mitchell fired at the end of the innings. Their innings was set up to reach 240 or 250 and we had a brilliant bowling performance until then," said du Plessis.

"He played fantastic cricket shots, but we as a bowling unit will be disappointed that we allowed him to score so many sixes. But for me, I've said before that my job is to score tons.

"I ticked that box but getting a ton and crossing your team over the line is much sweeter. Even when I was scoring I always felt like it was too far away because we kept on losing wickets."

Du Plessis rued a lack of substantial partnerships. He and all-rounder Ryan McLaren added 73 runs for the sixth wicket But there were no other stands larger than the 32 gathered by the centurion and aspiring all-rounder Dale Steyn.

"The way the wickets play here is the reason for that, the middle-order collapse. The ball gets slower so it's difficult when you come in as a new batter to score runs. It's definitely the toughest time of the innings to bat," he added.

"In saying that, you need to make sure that when you get a partnership going you extend it as long as possible. That was the difference with our performance in the previous match. Unfortunately 30- or 40-run partnerships are not going to win you the game."