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Bowlers need to use variations on such a pitch: Tsotsobe

ABU DHABI — South African left-arm quick Lonwabo Tsotsobe said that the key to bowling on the strip at the Shaikh Zayed International Cricket Stadium was to mix it up with variations. Tsotsobe, who was amongst the wickets in the two T20 games, returned with career-best figures, in the first One-Day International against Pakistan on Friday night.

The 26-year-old from Port Elizabeth took one wicket in his first spell, before returning to snap up three quick wickets in two overs—that of Misbah-ul-Haq, Shahid Afridi and Abdur Razzaq. He finished with figures of 10-3-27-4. His previous best was 4-50 on his debut against Australia in Perth last year.

Man-of-the-Match Tsotsobe said: “I have been working very hard on my bowling. I think the hard work I have put in is paying off right now. I’m feeling quite strong. I think my rhythm and bowling action feels good but there is a little more that I can improve. It is not bothering me and it is not much of an issue because I’m doing well at the moment.”

About the pitch, Tsotsobe said: “The wicket is good for batting. It tests the skills of a bowler. You need to use more of your variation instead of thinking it is a flat pitch.”

South African vice-captain Johan Botha too praised his quick. “The key is to get quality players and Tsotsobe came back well and bowled in the right areas to pick those wickets. The wicket is not as easy as everyone thinks it is. Maybe, 240 to 250 could be a really good score,” he said.

Botha said that the wickets of danger man and captain Shahid Afridi and Mohammed Hafeez was the turning point.

Pakistan were preparing for a late assault, having reached 140-1 before the South African bowlers piled on the pressure which lead to a familiar batting collapse. Pakistan finished up at 203 all out in 49 overs and South African knocked off the runs losing just two wickets.

It was South Africa’s 10^th win in 12 ODIs this year. Pakistan have won just three games in 11 ODIs.

“I think we put quite a bit of pressure in the middle overs and to get those two wickets was really good for us. Then, our seamers came back and finished the job really well. That was the important stage of the game. But, all in all, we really had a good day in the field today,” Botha said.

Botha did admit that they were a bit worried when Younis Khan and Hafeez looked rock solid and put on a 114-run partnership for the second wicket, Pakistan’s highest second wicket partnership this year.

“It was quite a tough match. Pakistan were 140 for 1 at one stage and we were a bit worried. But we put in a really good second half and our batters really looked in control from the start. But it was bad that Kallis had to retire,” he said.

But Botha added that the partnership did not take the game away from them. “We were comfortable with that partnership which never really took the game away from us. So, as soon as the wickets fell, our seamers came back and Pakistan were under pressure losing 63 runs for eight wickets. It is good to post a win and make it three in a row in a long time,” said Botha.

james@khaleejtimes.com