After having a lack of finishing off the opportunities that they create by finding a way to keep a powerful Indian line-up in check, the Proteas made more use of their chances to find a way to win a match that looked as if they would lose, after only managing a mediocre total that was below-par on a pitch that suited batting once you were in.
But fighting back from such a situation that looked dire looked as if it would have to be in the hands of the home outfit. So it was but it was not entirely their fault, as consistent line and length bowling helped restrict the damage that they could inflict, and it looked as if India would chase it down. Because of it, an 18 run victory for the tourists took a fine comeback that would have felt them to be deserving victors. Unfortunately, for a unit that is going to have to overcome adversity in a quest to regain the confidence that saw them be world-beaters, it was exactly what happened, and so it did in the most unlikely of circumstances.
In heat that made the players look like they could not survive it, with their faces saying it all, having to stay in the field sapped out some of the energy of them and it was not at all what they wanted. So to bat first on a pitch that looked as if it would play so well that you would rather want to be a batsman on it, was the ideal situation, and after hard work running between the wickets, a dip in the ice bath would cool the down, ready for an onslaught that would match that of the batting. It was so warm that it would give the team not having to sweat it out, it an advantage, and no captain that was not an idiot would have chosen to field first.
Luckily for the Proteas they had the choice to do what they wanted, and lo and behold, to no wonder and avail, they chose to insert their pair of openers that were new as a combination. The decision to push David Miller to a position that was unknown was controversial at the least, to accompany fellow-youthful prospect Quinton de Kock, although there was a hint that they would do so before.
He had been struggling for form, but it was a clear indication that they need more fire-power up front, as his dynamism is much more see able than the very contrasting yet cool and calm personality of Hashim Amla. While Miller did not make as much impact as he had wanted to, he looked as if he was at home in circumstances that he was not used to, and gave them a solid foundation from which to build on.
The Proteas made a start that brought some optimism to them that they had what it takes to see out a pace attack that was highly skilled, and knew how to be the factor that they wanted to be. It was their chance to show what they were worth, as the pitch provided little assistance to the way that they played, and that they were not having the right skills to be successful on the type of track that it was. It was the tourists that read the state of the game so that they knew how to play, and what they needed to produce to be the influence that they have been with a revolutionary approach that has led them to reach new heights.
But the way in which India observed the state of the game allowed them to take control of proceedings in the familiar conditions that they can call āhomeā. They showed their worth by pulling back after a start that left them behind, stopping the bright progress that the Proteas had made to gain the upper hand.
The home outfit misread the conditions to the extent that their go-to option of the fast bowling battery struggled to make the impact that they had been looking for, as the pitch was not suited to the way that they wanted to come out. But, like all teams who are renowned for their habit of finding a way to adapt, they found a way to have an answer to solve the problem-how did the Proteas start so in a way that they took advantage of a deck where bowlers had to work hard?
Well, India saw the ease that their most influential characters were getting hell-bent on losing their shine and knew how to solve it. And so they did in a fine manner. The ball came onto the bat in an immaculate way, with there being much reason to have optimism that South-Africa would go on to dominate largely. And in and amongst the periods that was their opponentsā, it was exactly what happened.
To keep the visitors in check, India turned to see if a track that favoured the men with blades in hand would suit the introduction of an expertise that is extremely difficult, spin. It did, and just at the right time, when they were struggling for breath. They took full use of the softness of the pitch that allowed it to turn enough to trouble those who they were aiming to trouble, and what created an air of excitement that they would slow down the tempo of events.
There was something in a seemingly ābatsmanās paradiseā, or rather say, they did not create enough fear into the hearts of their so-called ātargetsā, to restrict a flourishing unit. The Proteas were busy laying a platform, based on the fine start that their openers gave, adding together 72 quick runs that were perfect for the situation. They were busy building a platform that would testify their habit of keeping wickets in hand.
But also, sadly, they have a predilection to also fade away from nowhere when they were in a position to take the game away. And they did so as expected, the latter, and after a solid foundation was laid, it was destroyed by a performance that showed once again that they donāt quite have the balance that they need to be at the level that they vie for. A sudden lapse of concentration led there to being calls that they would not get to the calibre of total that was thought to be after the bright progress that they had made.
Despite that India had a plan in mind, sticking by it, the truth was that the Proteas threw away the chance of securing a well-earned base to input some confidence from. A lack of application served them to break into pieces, and it restricted the damage that they imposed on an Indian team that were slowly but surely gaining momentum.
Some late imputes, however, from one of the most unlikely of heroās, in the name of Farhaan Behardien, came as a much-needed confidence booster to inspire them towards a total- 170-5- that was in the shadow of the school of thought that it was in their hands to go to new heights, but nonetheless of much importance.
When India were jittery when they started to want to take a lead in a series that identified the heroics of two important members, and who having sadly passed away, changed the face of the political unrest in their respective countries, and looked as if the mediocre nature of the target made them to fault.
But, realising that they could take their time to get in, they were patient in response to a South-African attack that prepared with a mind that they knew how they should bowl to an audacious pair of opportunistic campaigners. How the hosts took their time to feel the nature of how the pitch reacted made them adequate to fend off later challenges. They wanted to keep wickets in hand so that the fire-power that followed could have the base from which to drag them across the finishing line.
However, maybe in hindsight they left too much for even the most powerful of followers to have a change of winning. That and the way that the Proteas came back to deliver a spirited performance that in the end was the difference. The way that the tourists made the inability to finish off the opportunities seems as if it did not matter, in fact, did not prove an influential factor, as they finished off strongly in taking their chances when it mattered.
They knew what they were doing, and the faith that all supporters had in them, made them to end strong and secure a place as the new leader in the series. On what they have produced so far, it is likely that they will carry on with the new-found habit to find a way to win against the odds.