Faf du Plessis lays solid foundation in Proteas batting innings

02 October 2016 - 16:11 By Chumani Bambani
subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now
Faf du Plessis of the Proteas celebrates his 100 runs during the 2nd Momentum ODI Series match between South Africa and Australia at Bidvest Wanderers Stadium on October 02, 2016 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Lee Warren/Gallo Images)
Faf du Plessis of the Proteas celebrates his 100 runs during the 2nd Momentum ODI Series match between South Africa and Australia at Bidvest Wanderers Stadium on October 02, 2016 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Lee Warren/Gallo Images)

An inspiring captain’s knock by Faf du Plessis put the Proteas in a commanding position in their match against Australia at the Wanderers Stadium on Sunday.

After Du Plessis lost the toss in the second of five One Day Internationals against the Baggy Greens‚ the hosts were put in to bat.

Depite opening batsman Quinton de Kock failing to follow up his heroics from Friday’s first ODI where he put the Aussie bowling attack to the sword with an authoritative 178 that contributed to the Proteas’ six wicket victory in the first ODI in Centurion‚ the rest of the SA top order came to the party at the Bullring. De Kock managed to only score 22.

Rilee Rossouw‚ who contributed with a half-century (63) at SuperSport Park‚ again proved useful with the bat in Johannesburg when he laid the foundation for the Proteas innings with a charged 75 runs off 80 balls before he was let down by a top edge off the bowling of John Hastings.

The Proteas innings‚ however‚ belonged to Du Plessis‚ who came in and blasted his way to 111 off 92 balls‚ and had some valuable partnerships with Rossouw and JP Duminy.

Du Plessis’s century was his sixth in ODI cricket‚ and provided the Proteas a good platform to build from as they attempted to go ahead 2-0 in the five-match series.

Duminy too showed his worth when he fired his way to a valuable 82 runs off 58 balls‚ which included three sixes.

Farhaan Behardien made a meagre 13 runs‚ while David Miller added 26.

Wayne Parnell (8) and Andile Phehlukwayo (13) steered the Proteas in the end to set a target of 361‚ after six wickets had fallen in the allotted 50 overs.

While the Aussie bowling attack was rather impotent on the Bullring track‚ it was Hastings who was the pick of the bowlers‚ picking up three wickets for 57 runs‚ followed by Mitchell Marsh (2/68) and Chris Tremain (1/78).

Du Plessis will now hope that his bowlers will be up to the challenge to close the game off as the Australians go in to bat.

TMG Digital/TMG Sport

subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now