Published: Oct 05, 2015, 10:56 AM (IST)
Edited: Oct 05, 2015, 10:58 AM (IST)
Farhaan Behardien suggested that South Africa’s One-Day International (ODI) skipper AB de Villiers will continue to open innings, especially in the subcontinent conditions keeping the upcoming World T20 2016 keeping in mind, that is scheduled to begin in March. “He was mentioning that he has been on tour to India about 25 times or so. The first six overs in a Twenty20 game when the ball comes on to the bat are crucial. If we can pounce on the powerplay, AB is that good a player that if he bats for 50 to 60 balls, he will end up with a hundred. We wanted to test it out before the World Cup (World T20) next year in March and see how he goes. Let’s hope it proves fruitful for us,” the 31-year-old added. Scorecard: India vs South Africa, 2nd T20I at Cuttack
The explosive batsman opened innings with Hashim Amla in the first T20I against India in Dharamsala on Friday as the duo went on to build a partnership of 77 runs from 46 balls before Amla was dismissed for a 34-ball 36 in the eighth over. However, he had done his job, that partnership laid the foundation for South Africa’s chase of 199.
According to Times of India, AB earlier suggested that their prime goal at the moment is to win their first-ever T20 series in India and in order to do that he said the Proteas have to maintain the standards they created in the first game. “We’re in Cuttack now for the second T20 and we’re excited by the prospect of winning what is the first T20 series we have played in India. That’s our immediate goal, but there is plenty of cricket to be played over the next two months and we all know India are a powerful side,” he further added. READ: AB de Villiers: JP Duminy is the best T20 player in South Africa’s squad
