It will be a case of “rinse and repeat” for the Proteas who tackle the Netherlands in what is technically the third ODI of their series at the Wanderers on Sunday, with the home team’s automatic qualification for the World Cup still up in the air.
While New Zealand cleared one path by beating Sri Lanka, meaning the island nation have to play the ICC qualifying event in Zimbabwe in June, South Africa’s presence won’t be totally secured with a victory in the “Pink ODI” today.
There remains the possibility that Ireland will sneak into the final automatic qualifying spot if they can claim a clean sweep against Bangladesh in a series to be played in Chelmsford next month.
A 3-0 series win for the Irish would leave them on 98 points — the total the Proteas will achieve with victory today. With both teams in that scenario, having won nine matches in the ICC Super League, the next tiebreaker would be the net run rate, which the Proteas improved with the dominant win in Friday’s ODI, and which they will hope to repeat at the Bullring today.
While Temba Bavuma and Aiden Markram overwhelmed the Dutch with the bat, victory was set up by a proficient bowling performance in which Sisanda Magala and Tabraiz Shamsi starred, taking three wickets apiece.
Magala broke the game open for the home team with a brace of wickets after the Dutch had started well, thanks to a 58-run first wicket partnership. “He’s making himself into a match-winner for the team. He picked up those wickets at a vital time and gave us momentum, which we ran with,” said Bavuma.
Magala, 32, has experienced a remarkable change of fortune over the course of the season. He started by being omitted from the domestic T20 Challenge because he failed to adhere to Cricket South Africa’s fitness requirements. He will end it, having starred for the Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the SA20 and next week heads to India to play for the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, where he will net R1.1m.
“I think for him it’s just a lot of relief in terms of getting the opportunities he wants. There is not a lot of noise around matters outside of cricket and I think he is thriving off that,” said Bavuma.
I know Magala, he gets homesick quite quickly, but if he wants to be a regular at international level he will have to find a way to get over that
— Temba Bavuma
Magala has admitted he is nervous about the trip, having never spent a lengthy amount of time away from home.
He has sought advice from teammates regarding the tournament. “I’ve never been to the IPL, but I’ve been to India and it can be a tough place to tour,” said the Proteas captain.
“The advice I can give him is, he must use his time wisely and if he gets those opportunities in the field, then he must back his game and most importantly enjoy it.
If he doesn’t get an opportunity to play, he must still do all his work in and around the games because you want to come back fitter and stronger. I know Magala, he gets homesick quite quickly, but if he wants to be a regular at international level, he will have to find a way to get over that.”
Today is the 12th playing of the “Pink ODI” which has helped to raise awareness for breast cancer, with funds from this year’s match being donated to the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital Breast Care Unit.
“We’d like to urge the fans to come out and support us. There’s no excuse, it’s a Sunday, it’s after church and hopefully they can come and enjoy the day with us in their pink outfits,” said Bavuma.
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