Experienced players like David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen had a hard time against the spin of Bishnoi and Chakravarthy.
Former South Africa wicketkeeper-batter Mark Boucher highlighted that South Africa’s loss to India in the T20I series opener in Durban showed their struggles, particularly David Miller’s issues against spin.
Boucher pointed out that former Gujarat Titans batter Miller had difficulty handling India’s spinners, Ravi Bishnoi and Varun Chakravarthy. He also noted that while the pitch at Kingsmead offered some turn, it was India’s spinners who adapted better to the conditions than South Africa’s bowlers.
Speaking to JioCinema, Boucher said that Bishnoi’s control over Miller affected South Africa’s momentum, emphasizing that Miller’s difficulty against spin was a major factor in the match’s outcome.
Boucher also praised the Indian spinners as South Africa’s batting struggled. Experienced players like David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen had a hard time against the spin of Bishnoi and Chakravarthy. Chakravarthy took 3 wickets for 25 runs, showing great form since coming back to the national team, while Bishnoi took 3 wickets for 28 runs, doing well in the middle overs.
“I was watching a couple of his (Ravi Bishnoi) balls come out a little bit different and I think what he did really well tonight, especially in the dark, is he changed the seam up. Sometimes you look at the ball, especially as a wicket-keeper as well. You look at the ball and see if you can see it spinning different ways. But he muddled his seam up very nicely,”:Boucher said.
“David Miller wasn’t picking a thing at all. I mean, there’s one over there where I think he missed four out of the six deliveries he faced. So yeah, he was bowled really well tonight, and it just goes to show two quality spinners. There was something there for the ballers, on that wicket. Something that South African bowlers could not exploit,” Boucher added.
The Proteas’ best chance came with a 42-run partnership between Miller and Klaasen, which provided a short period of stability. However, similar to their performance in the T20 World Cup 2024 final, the partnership couldn’t last as both were dismissed by Chakravarthy in the 12th over.
With the series moving to Gqeberha for the 2nd T20I on November 10, Boucher expects South Africa to address their issues and put up a better fight against spin.
On the other hand, India, boosted by their 61-run victory in the first T20I, will look to extend their lead and apply more pressure on South Africa.
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