Looking to end the tour on a high

Things have not gone our way as we move into the latter stage of our South African tour.

Last Friday, we lost the second Twenty20 international by four wickets and followed that up with a six-wicket defeat to South Africa in Sunday’s one-day international. In both instances, we were in with a chance of winning deep into the matches but, ultimately, we couldn’t come up with the killer blows when necessary. That's what was lacking.

In the Twenty20 in Johannesburg, we scored 131 for 7 in 20 overs to which South Africa replied with 134 for 6 in 19.2 overs. Then in the rain-abbreviated one-dayer in Centurion, we managed 175 all out in 35.5 of our 36 overs, and South Africa romped to victory with 176 for 4 off 34 overs.

At either location, the toss proved critical and we lost both and were sent in to bat. In Johannesburg, the pitch was slow and damp and we couldn’t get away to the start we needed. The ball was swinging and you had to be patient and graft and the pressure was building up because the overs were disappearing. South Africa really had us on the back foot. I opened the innings with Devon Smith and got the second-highest score of 19.

In the field, we had mixed fortunes as our bowlers produced some wicket-taking deliveries but then some short and wide balls too. There was often a ‘four ball’ in each over and that helped ease the pressure, especially towards the end when Shaun Pollock’s experience was the decisive difference. He usually stars with the ball but, on this occasion, he showed his prowess with the bat as well to seal his team’s triumph.

Things were much the same in the one-dayer, where we were asked to bat in overcast and rainy conditions which had already prevented us from playing a full 50-overs encounter. We were looking for a score of 190 to 210 but, as Graeme Smith’s team made early and consistent inroads into our batting, and we had to try and consolidate. At 81 for 6 – when I was out for just 3 in the 22nd over – we were in a dismal position but Darren Sammy and Runako Morton produced a gutsy 69-run partnership for the seventh wicket to put some respectability on our scoreboard. Sammy in particular was impressive, taking the attack to South Africa with some positive shots. He richly deserved his half-century.

As I said before, we had our opportunities in these games but we couldn’t capitalise on them. Having the opposition reeling on 4 for 2 was a great start to defending our modest total and we should have seized the momentum. However, two things happened. First, there was a 55-run stand between JP Duminy and Jacques Kallis for the third wicket, which stabilised the South African innings, and then more importantly there was a leg-before appeal against Duminy which was turned down. The replay showed the ball would have struck middle and leg. It was a match-altering decision as Duminy spearheaded his side’s success with an unbeaten 79.

Despite losing both games – and in the process splitting the Twenty20 series 1-1 with South Africa – I think there was much for us to take heart from last weekend. Another 20 or 30 runs in either contest could have made a massive difference in the result. In addition, we needed to bowl more consistently. I believe we can sharpen up and be competitive in the remaining four one-dayers.

The early departure of our skipper, Chris Gayle, is a significant loss but we appreciate that, given his injuries, he will be unable to take further part in the series. We look forward to his speedy and full recovery in time for our upcoming battles versus Sri Lanka and Australia in the Caribbean.

Now, we need to rally together as a team and continue to produce the quality performances which Chris would be proud of and to end our tour on a high.