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West Indies Tri-Nation series 2016: South Africa marks out of 10

Following South Africa's disastrous performance, it is now time to rate the players from the squad that played in the side, as Ayush Gupta does the proceedings.

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South Africa's shaky form continues as they were unable to make to to the final © AFP
South Africa’s shaky form continues as they were unable to make to to the final © AFP

Following a shaky outing in the ICC World T20 2016 in March-April 2016, South Africa had a freesh challenge to look forward to in 50-overs cricket, as they travelled to the Caribbean island nation of West Indies, to face off against the hosts and world champions Australia in a tri-series. However, their shaky form continued as they were unable to make it to the final, thus crashing out of the series, and also falling down in the ICC ODI Rankings. Following their disastrous performance, let’s now take a look at how the players performed individually as Ayush Gupta rates them on a scale of 10. Is Imran Tahir the best spinner South Africa has ever produced?

Faf du Plessis: The technically sound middle-order batsman was one of the top performers of the side, as he fired with the bat, scoring 139 runs, and had the best batting average in the side of 70, with a strike rate of 104. He hit plenty of boundaries whenever he was at the crease, and his highest score was 73. Thus, being the best batsman of the side in the series, he gets the maximum marks. Verdict: 8/10

Hashim Amla:  The impressive, dependable and one of the most exquisite openers in the world, Hashim Amla, is a name of perfection. And Amla, once again quite lived up to the expectation, scoring 241 runs, along with an average of 48, with a strike rate of 89. He was impressive at the top of the order and gave superb starts to his side alongside Quinton de Kock. Amla scored a half-century and a ton, while his highest score was 110. Thus, with a century, he too gets high marks. Verdict: 8/10

Rilee Rossouw: Rossouw was perhaps unlucky as he could feature in only 2 matches for his side and then injured his shoulder. He was ruled out of the tri-series due to the injury and Dean Elgar was named his replacement. His knock of 61 in the first match against West Indies could not help South Africa as they eventually lost by 4 wickets.He could have had a different kind of a tournament though, if he would not have been injured. Verdict: 5/10 BREAKING: Imran Tahir goes missing for hours following 7-wicket haul

Quinton de Kock: Another swash buckling opener of the South African side, who has been in deadly form of late, did fire with the bat, scoring 149 runs, with an average of 30, along with a strike rate of 75, including a half-century, while his highest score was 71. He did hang in there with Amla while the duo opened the innings for the Proteas, but was surely not at his very best like he was in the IPL this year. Verdict: 7/10

Kagiso Rabada: The bowling all-rounder, who was in good form with the bat before coming into the series, did not do much with the bat in this series, scoring just 28 runs, with an average of 28. But he did look sharp with the ball, claiming the second most wickets in the side, with seven scalps, with an economy of 4.63, while his best figures were 3 for 13, as he too gets fair marks for his performance. Verdict: 6/10

Farhan Behardien: The batting all-rounder, who too has been a reliable resource for the South African off late, put up a moderate performance with the bat, but hardly bowled in the entire series, except for an over. He managed to score 101 runs, with an average of 25, along with a strike rate of 68, and a half-century, as his highest score was 62. Thus, he gets moderate marks for his performance as well. Verdict: 6/10

AB de Villiers: The skipper AB de Villiers hardly managed to fire in the series, as he has scored 121 runs in six games, with an average of 24, along with a strike rate of 82, while his highest score was just 39. De Villiers had a forgettable series with the bat as he could manage even a half-century. His dip in form affected South Africa’s chances of qualifying for the finals as well. Also, failing to lead his team to the final resulted in point loss. Thus, he gets just five marks for his performance. Verdict: 5/10

JP Duminy: The hard hitting middle-order batsman was expected to fire in the series. However, he failed to live up to the expectations, as he could manage only 92 runs, with an average of 23, along with a strike rate of 86, while his highest score was 41. Duminy’s form was a worry for the Proteas as the middle-order was where the runs were not coming from. Verdict: 5/10

Chris Morris: The all-rounder had good season in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2016, as he looked to carry his good form in the Caribbean. However, he failed to do so with the bat, scoring just 56 runs, with an average of 19, along with a strike rate of 85, while his highest score was 40. Also, he was not as impressive with the ball, claiming just three wickets, with an economy of 4.62, while his best figure itself was 3 for 63. Thus, he too gets a moderate marks. Verdict: 4/10

Wayne Parnell: The fast-bowler was to be the main strike bowler for South Africa, although he could take just five wickets, along with an economy of 5.65, as his best figures read 2 for 23, thus proving that it it didn’t turn out to be a good outing for him too. Verdict: 4/10

Imran Tahir: Indeed the star of South Africa’s bowling attack at present, the leg-spinner has been in deadly form of late. He finished the series as the top South African wicket-taker, with 13 scalps, along with a strike rate of 4.56, while his best figures read 7 for 45. His googlies were unplayable and difficult to pick at times. He caused a lot of trouble to the batsmen throughout the series and made most of the conditions. He therefore earns handsome marks for his performance. Verdict: 8/10

Aaron Phangiso: The slow bowler too was not at his best, although he did manage to claim six wickets, along with an economy of 4.84, while his best figures read 3 for 40. Having played just three games, it was a subtle performance, as he attracts reasonable marks for it. He did contribute with his spin partner Tahir though to produce wickets on spin-friendly wickets.Verdict: 4/10

Kyle Abbott: The fast bowler is known to be very deadly. However, he had a flop show in the series, claiming just a wicket in a couple of games, along with a strike rate of 3.80. This itself is enough to give him low marks for his deprived performance. Verdict: 3/10

Morne Morkel: the bowling all-rounder was expected to fire, especially with the ball. However, he did not have the best of the tournament, as he managed to claim just a wicket in a couple of games, along with an economy of 7.55. He will have to improve as a wicket-taker. A terrible performance that does fails to attract the best marks. Verdict: 2/10

Tabraiz Shamsi: The spinner too did not have the best of the series, as he managed to claim just three wickets in a couple of games, along with an economy of 4.52, while his best figures were 2 for 41. Thus, again a restrained performance attracting low marks. Verdict: 3/10

(Ayush Gupta is a reporter at CricketCountry. A passionate supporter of Manchester United, he idolises Roger Federer and is also a World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) maniac. He can be followed on Twitter @Ayush24x7)

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