South Africa vs. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755: A brief comparison of the two competitors’ top players (Part 2)
(Continuing from the discussion in http://www.senore.com/South-Africa-vs-Pakistan-A-brief-comparison-of-the-two-competitors-top-players-Part-1-a36743, regarding the difference of cricketing atmosphere in T20 cricket)
Barring the ongoing series, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 and Pakistan have met in three T20 encounters. Two of these were during the T20 World Cup, and on both occasions, the Pakistanis were victorious. The third was in 2006, when the format had
recently gained popularity in the ICC arena, and the South African team scored a 10-wicket win over the Pakistani team.
Given that T20 cricket requires good all-round cricketers who can make small yet effective match-winning contributions, and South Africa is known as the land of all-round cricketers, the team is a formidable opponent in T20 matches.
Even though the South African T20 team has yet to win any major T20 tournaments, it has still twice made it to the Super 8 round in the T20 World Cups of 2007 and 2010, and had an exceptional run in the T20 World Cup of 2009, reaching the semi-final stage.
Among the South African T20 cricketing fraternity, there are three batsmen in particular who the Pakistanis must watch out for. One of them is skipper Graeme Smith, who holds the best batting record among his teammates, scoring
352 runs in just 16 matches, at an outstanding average of 22.00. The veteran captain has a strike rate of 114.95, having struck 40 boundaries and 5 sixes.
Another fearsome name is http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AB-de-Villiers-c887, who has 342 runs to his name at an average of 22.8. He has maintained a strike rate of 134.97, by striking 26 boundaries and smashing 14 hits out of the park. The South African batsman has
scored two half-centuries in the 20-over version of the game.
Last but not least is Herschelle Gibbs, who has scored 265 runs at an average if 22.08. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Gibbs-c60021 has successfully maintained an outstanding strike rate of 125.45, well-supported by 24 boundaries and 5 sixes, and not to forget, his
two match-winning half-centuries.
In the bowling department, Albie Morkel is a force to be reckoned with. Morkel has played 10 matches, taking 17 wickets at an average of 15.00, and a strike rate of 13.00. He has also maintained an economy rate of 6.00 runs per
over – his innings best is 4 for 20.
Fellow opening bowler http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Dale-c52110 Steyn has taken 15 wickets from his 11 matches, at an average of 24.00. He has also maintained a strike rate of 18, with an economy rate of 8 runs per over. The young and talented bowler’s best figures
in the T20 format are 3 for 37.
The three South African batsmen and two bowlers mentioned above are among the top-of-the-line players in T20 cricket, along with South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis and wicketkeeper-batsman Mark Boucher.
The South African T20 game has surely improved over the course of the last cricketing season, as most of their superstars were playing for domestic cricket leagues during the recent Champions League Trophy 2010, also known as CLT20.
With this thorough practice in the T20 format, and the first six-wicket win in the two-match T20I encounter, the South Africans will surely be looking to further shatter the already wounded confidence of the Pakistani cricket team after its controversial English
tour.
(To be continued)
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