Published: Nov 17, 2014, 02:14 PM (IST)
Edited: Nov 17, 2014, 05:11 PM (IST)
Nov 17, 2014
The South Africa bowling unit, on the back of a career-best bowling performance by Morne Morkel recuperated from their lackluster effort in the first One-Day International (ODI) against Australia to win by three wickets in the second ODI at Perth. Morkel bagged five for 21 and also praised his team’s bowling performance.
Morkel was of the opinion that the WACA pitch demands a fuller length be bowled which South Africa executed to perfection second time around in Perth.
“The bowling unit had a bit of a break before this series, and although we had nets, the lack of time in the middle and finding rhythm probably showed on Friday, The wicket was a little bit quicker today which helped us when we found our strides and rhythm. We bowled well in partnerships and with good intensity, being a bowler light today made it important for us to step up,” Morkel was quoted saying according to sport24.
[inline-quotes align=”left”]It’s always important for us to strike up front in those first 10 overs of the Power Play, With Australia being batting heaving and quite attacking upfront it was key for us to hit those margins which are very small at the WACA.[/inline-quotes]
The pacer reckoned that the only way to contain an aggressive top order that Australia possess was to strike at regular intervals or the Australians would have run away with the game in no time. He was all praise for the support he got from the bowlers at the other end, specially Farhaan Behardien who is in the team essentially as a batsman but is required to fill in the overs of the fifth bowler, the pacer was quoted saying
“It’s always important for us to strike up front in those first 10 overs of the Power Play, With Australia being batting heaving and quite attacking upfront it was key for us to hit those margins which are very small at the WACA. Compliments to Farhaan (Behardien) who came in today as the fifth bowler, He did a great job.
“I think they bat quite low down, even Nathan (Coulter-Nile) at number 10 can be a dangerous player. They are high quality attacking players and if you aren’t on the money they will make you pay. Luckily for us today we got the ball in the right areas and got the early wickets, that’s the most important thing in any one-day game,” Morkel said.
He said that South Africa recognise how much they can gain from this tour keeping the World Cup in mind, “The most important thing about this tour is that we are working toward the World Cup, ”
Morkel has not been South Africa’s designated opening bowler, he usually comes in first change but the Proteas pacer says he is relishing the challenge of bowling with the new ball during the powerplay
“We are trying different things, on the day a guy like Dale or Vernon might have the flu or some illness and I will need to be able to step up, it’s a role that I enjoy doing as well. I got the opportunity to go with the new ball today and I’m happy that I bowled well.” he added
