Dale Steyn reckons the series against India was “tough all the way through”
The South African fast bowler, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Dale-c52110 Steyn reckoned that the currently wrapped up series against India was the toughest of his career.
“It was pretty tough all the way through”, Steyn stated saying that http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 are one of the strongest sides in international cricket.
“When you’re playing against a team like India you’re always going to struggle, especially as they bat all the way down the order to Number 9 and 10”, Steyn added, while praising India for handing the Proteas a hard-fought series victory.
South Africa won the five-match One Day series against MS Dhoni’s side after slumping to two defeats in a row.
The Proteas crawled back from a 2-1 deficit to seal a series victory after stamping two wins in the final two matches at Port Elizabeth and Centurion.
India put up a strong fight against Graeme Smith’s side in both the matches, however, the Proteas had luck and great bowlers on their side.
When India were chasing 269 for victory in the deciding match at Centurion, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757’s bowling attack restricted the opposition to 119 for the loss of eight wickets.
However, India’s threatening late-order batsman, Yusuf Pathan, gave the bowlers a hard time, as he lit up the closing overs of the nail-biting match when he blistered 105 runs off just 70 balls.
Steyn extended his appreciation to Pathan’s heroics saying that batsmen like these can put the bowler under immense pressure during crucial moments of a match.
“...Yusuf nearly turned it for them (India). He smokes the ball, even his mis-hits were going for six”, Steyn recalled before adding that one cannot do anything about such performance but sit back and say “well-played”.
Steyn vowed that he will learn from the series and will replay this experience in the World Cup 2011 that is scheduled to begin from 19 February in the Sub-continent.
Steyn was included in the 15-man squad and is one of the eleven players of the World Cup squad, who have never taken part, in a 50-over World Cup.
“It is a new thing, and we are looking forward to it”, Steyn admitted about the World Cup experience, adding that the atmosphere is fantastic with some new faces in the squad.
South Africa is drawn in Group B alongside the likes of India, West Indies, and England. The Proteas will be playing their first group match against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760 on the spin-friendly wicket of Nagpur, India on 24 February, 2011.
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