The Proteas’ long-awaited return to the international arena ended in a 3-0 whitewash at the hands of England in their T20 series at Newlands on Tuesday.
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Despite posting their highest total of the series, the South African attack was no match for the belligerent England batting line-up.
So how did the Proteas’ XI rate in the third and final T20?
Every Proteas player ranked (out of 10):
Quinton de Kock: 3
Won the toss, elected to bat when bowling may have been the better option. Scored 17 off 11 balls before his 12th delivery saw him dismissed thanks to poor shot selection – not for the first time in the series. The Proteas rely heavily on their skipper getting them off to fast starts, but sadly that wasn’t the case this series. Looked dejected at the post-match interviews and was unable to pinpoint where it all went wrong.
Temba Bavuma: 5
Looked to be in better form than the opening matches, scoring 32 from 26 balls, but then chipped a ball to mid-off just as he looked set. Questions will no doubt be asked regarding his long-term future at the top of the Proteas’ T20 order.
Reeza Hendricks: 3
Struggled to get going scoring 13 off 14 balls. Anything less than a run-a-ball will simply never cut it at the highest level. His spot in the team is most certainly not a certainty …
Faf du Plessis: 7
Scored 58, 11 and 52* in his three knocks in the series. The Proteas relied heavily on his experience as the top order faltered. His team-mates could do worse than take a long, hard look at how the former skipper goes about his business, even when at times his timing of the ball wasn’t at its best.
Rassie van der Dussen: 8
The Proteas’ player of the series without question. One shudders to think how badly it would’ve gone wrong had Van der Dussen failed with the bat. Thankfully, he didn’t. Scores of 37, 25* and 74* gave him an average of 136 in the series and his final knock (off just 32 balls) gave the Proteas a sniff of victory. Alas … Hitting Jofra Archer for 22 in an over was a memorable moment at Newlands.
Pite van Biljon: 0
Puzzling selection for the third T20 having done nothing in the first match to suggest a recall after being dropped for the second clash. Didn’t bat, doesn’t bowl. Future must be in doubt.
George Linde: 8
Continued to impress in his debut series. Showed excellent BMT and control in opening the bowling in the power-play overs against a lethal England line-up. Didn’t bat in the third match, but could well be a long-term all-rounder selection.
Anrich Nortje: 5
Showed plenty of gas, clocking 150km/h-plus at times. Picked up the only England wicket to fall. Finished with respectable figures of 4-0-37-1.
Lutho Sipamla: 2
Tough night at the office for the debutant who predictably was targeted by the England line-up. Conceded 45 runs off his 16 legal deliveries, 4 of which went for sixes.
Lungi Ngidi: 5
Showed fight in his three overs (23 runs), but wasn’t able to make the all-important breakthrough the Proteas so badly needed. Looked trim and sharper in the field.
Tabraiz Shamsi: 2
After picking up career-best bowling figures in the second T20 in Paarl, it was back to earth with a bump for Shamsi who was carted to all parts of Newlands, conceding 57 runs in his 4 overs. The first-choice spinner berth for the Proteas at next year’s T20 World Cup remains up for grabs.
