Ken Borland

Chevrolet Knights batsman Dean Elgar is hoping to transfer how good he feels in practice out into the middle as the left-hander eyes another summer and another push to make the national team.

This search for runs will begin on Saturday when Elgar heads out to the crease for South Africa A against Sri Lanka A in a four-day game at Kingsmead in Durban.

“I had two good knocks in warm-up matches here and even when I’ve been practising in Bloemfontein I’ve just felt really good, in fact this is the best I’ve ever felt,” Elgar said on Tuesday at the High Performance Centre in Pretoria where the SA A squad are training ahead of the series against the Sri Lankans.

“So the confidence and the technique are there, I just have to apply and execute,” Elgar added.

This could well be the year that Elgar finally makes his international debut as he has been a prolific scorer at domestic level for several years now and he was chosen in South Africa’s squad for the one-day international series against Sri Lanka but had to withdraw without playing a match due to a knee injury.

“I had a bite of the cherry but then my knee had other plans. It’s one of those things, that’s cricket, but when you’ve got a personal goal like playing for the national side, you don’t get disheartened by things like that,” the 25-year-old said philosophically.

Elgar believes he could fit into either the test or ODI team, but admits “there are awesome players currently in the national side”. He would like to open the batting in the longer form of the game, but would be happy to slot in anywhere in the limited-overs line-up.

“I think I’m firmly positioned as an opener in four-day cricket, but in the one-dayers I can bat anywhere between one and five. I had a lot of success for the Knights batting in the middle-order, but the national team chooses you where to bat, you don’t choose where you want to bat!” Elgar said.

The Welkom-born former SA U19 captain is also a fine fielder and can also bowl accurate left-arm spin, which can only help his chances of making the ODI squad.

His temperament is proven by the number of times he has saved the Knights from precarious positions, his grittiness and sheer survival instinct at the crease drawing comparisons to former Australian opener Justin Langer.

“The important thing is to be patient and just keep doing what makes you successful, what I’m comfortable with in my game. You don’t want to tinker too much because that can be the recipe for disaster,” Elgar said.

The summer may well start with Elgar once again with the SA A team – when they head to Zimbabwe for the triangular series there with Sri Lanka A it will be his seventh tour with them – but it could well end with him having finally made the step up to full international colours.

http://www.supersport.com/cricket/sa-a-team/news/120626/Elgar_full_of_confidence_for_summer_ahead

National selector Vinnie Barnes said on Tuesday that he was surprised both by South Africa’s lack of success in Zimbabwe and the conditions which the team played in during the T20 triangular series.

South Africa were hammered by nine wickets by Zimbabwe in the final of the tournament last weekend, having been beaten once each by both the hosts and Bangladesh in the round-robin stage.

“I was a bit surprised, I thought we’d play better. I know there was a bit of rustiness and they were up against international bowlers, especially the slower bowlers, who are world-class. It was also difficult for the batsmen because it was not easy just to come in and score runs,” Barnes said at the High Performance Centre in Pretoria on Tuesday.

“I was also surprised by the conditions. Last year when South Africa A played a triangular series with Zim and Australia A, the conditions weren’t like that at all. At the start, teams were defending 230 in 50 overs, but, by the end, teams were scoring 300.”

The T20 triangular series was regarded as a warm-up/trial for the ICC World Twenty20 Championship in Sri Lanka in September, and South Africa will probably be met by similar conditions on the sub-continental island.

“Some places in Sri Lanka will be similar, but at others you’ll be looking to defend 200. But the pitches will generally be slow and turning and the ball won’t be bouncing much,” Barnes conceded.

But the former national assistant coach said the trip should not be regarded as a failure, because it has brought more clarity to selection, some players advancing their cause and others dissuading the national selectors of their suitability.

“We definitely have more clarity now, it gives us ideas of what combinations will work. Gary Kirsten wanted specific players to rest for the tour and we wanted to have a look at fringe players, we wanted to know what was available for our best 15 for Sri Lanka,” Barnes said.

There has been a simmering air of discontent over South Africa’s strength in depth after the unexpected results, but Barnes, who is currently coaching the SA A team, put the inconsequential defeats into context.

“Lonwabo Tsotsobe is still the number one ranked bowler in limited-overs cricket, even though it was disappointing to see him not being so effective, and Wayne Parnell and Marchant de Lange are both quality bowlers who are coming up through the system.

“Our preparations this winter are all about the A team shadowing the national side and I’ve been pleasantly surprised at the energy and drive and ambition there is to play for the national team. It’s higher than I expected, even more than last year.

“A lot of time and effort is spent with the A team and we give them all the necessary tools to get them where they should be,” Barnes said.

As the South Africa A team prepare to do battle with Sri Lanka A in two four-day matches, plus a one-day triangular series in Zimbabwe against the same opposition and their neighbours, it would be stupid to write off the system that has served brilliantly as a pipeline in the past, based on one poor series of matches that were being used more as a trial than competitive outings.

Even though Quinton Friend is likely to sit out with a strained back, South Africa A will still field a top-class attack with De Lange, Rory Kleinveldt, Ryan McLaren, Chris Morris and Parnell all available, while leg-spinner Imran Tahir will be making a guest appearance in the first four-day match at Kingsmead.

A batting line-up featuring Faf du Plessis, Farhaan Berhardien, Dean Elgar, Colin Ingram, Heino Kuhn, Richard Levi, David Miller, Justin Ontong and Dane Vilas should certainly also engender a great deal of confidence, and a clearer picture of South Africa’s depth should emerge after SA A complete the four-dayers and the limited-overs triangular on July 21.

http://www.supersport.com/cricket/sa-team/news/120626/Barnes_surprised_by_lack_of_success

Brendan Taylor and Hamilton Masakadza powered Zimbabwe to an emphatic nine-wicket victory over South Africa in the final of the Pran RFL T20 Triangular Series at Harare Sports Club on Sunday.

 – http://www.supersport.com/cricket/sa-team/news/120624/Taylor_Masakadza_power_Zim_to_title

While South Africa rested four key players in AB de Villiers, Jacques Kallis, Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn, the result was still a shock as Zimbabwe marked themselves as far more than just minnows in this version of the game.

Masakadza finished with an industrious 58 not out off 50 balls, with two sixes, while Taylor hammered an excellent 59 not out off 41 balls as Zimbabwe handed their big-brother neighbours a thorough hiding with 17 balls to spare.

South Africa clearly have a lot of work to do in the months remaining before the ICC World T20 in Sri Lanka, with more being expected of the support players to their quartet of stars.

Chasing a competitive 147 for victory, Vusi Sibanda bashed 23 off 16 balls before 12th man Farhaan Behardien took a sensational catch at cover-point to dismiss him off Chris Morris.

But there was far more punishment to come as captain Taylor took advantage of a liberal supply of poor deliveries to race to a 32-ball half-century.

Lonwabo Tsotsobe travelled for 20 runs in his first two overs and left-arm spinner Robin Peterson was brought on in the sixth over.

But Taylor swept his first ball for six with superb timing and then hit fours through extra cover and backward point. Masakadza then launched the last ball of the over into the crowd beyond long-on and 21 runs had come from the over.

Masakadza and Taylor brought up their fifty partnership off 32 balls and Zimbabwe’s hundred took just 69 deliveries.

Tsotsobe, purportedly a definite for South Africa’s T20 squad, had a dreadful afternoon, conceding 43 runs in his four overs, but new-ball partner Morris looked dangerous and finished with a commendable one for 24 in his four overs, half of those runs coming from three edged boundaries off his bowling.

Wayne Parnell needs to sort out his no-ball problem in the practices between now and September in Sri Lanka, conceding 27 runs in 3.1 overs, which included another two no-balls.

The hapless Peterson, who had been the most consistent bowler heading into the final, had 35 runs taken off his three overs as the Zimbabweans clearly targeted the experienced spinner.

Then again, the home side played with the intensity and confidence normally associated with the South Africans and were clearly the better side throughout the final.

Faf du Plessis and Albie Morkel had earlier combined to lead South Africa to a comfortable 146 for six.

South Africa had won the toss and elected to bat first, but there were nervous times for the first half of the innings as six for two in the second over became 67 for five in the 12th.

But Du Plessis worked the ball around beautifully to score 66 off 57 balls, while Morkel smoked three fours and a six in his 34 not out off 23 balls, sharing a crucial sixth-wicket stand of 60 in seven overs.

Zimbabwe made a change to their bowling strategy by giving paceman Kyle Jarvis the new ball and he struck with the first ball of the match, an inswinger trapping a flatfooted Richard Levi lbw for a duck.

The start then became disastrous for South Africa when captain Hashim Amla (3) swung a short delivery from Christopher Mpofu to Malcolm Waller running round the square-leg boundary.

Du Plessis and Colin Ingram then added 39 for the third wicket, but it was hard work as Jarvis and Mpofu conceded just 15 runs in the first four overs and spinners Prosper Utseya and Graeme Cremer were as tight as ever.

There was also a crucial let-off for South Africa as Du Plessis, on 12, sliced Richard Muzhange into the covers but Stuart Matsikenyeri made a stupid mess of the catch.

Ingram fell for 19 when he edged an unsteady cut shot off leg-spinner Cremer to Utseya at short third-man, and Utseya then managed to remove Justin Ontong (5) by clasping a return catch between his legs.

Dane Vilas (2) was also off-balance while trying to cut and was caught behind off Waller to leave South Africa on a decidedly shaky 67 for five.

But the Titans pair of Du Plessis and Morkel, also IPL teammates at the Chennai Super Kings, batted with authority to stabilise the innings and seemingly give South Africa a good chance of avoiding another embarrassing defeat to their neighbours.

Morkel’s hitting power is known worldwide, but the left-hander faced only 23 balls in eight-and-a-half overs, collecting successive boundaries off Cremer at the start of the 13th over and then ending the innings with a majestic six over long-on off Muzhange.

Jarvis put a clamp on the scoring at the death though, and was rewarded with the wicket of Du Plessis, who hit a booming drive down the throat of long-on in the penultimate over.

Parnell hit a couple of clever boundaries in the final over as he finished on 12 not out off six balls.

The Zimbabwe bowlers, barring Muzhange, were all pretty much on target, with Jarvis the pick of the attack as he returned a superb two for 22 in four overs.

Brendan Taylor and Hamilton Masakadza blasted unbeaten half-centuries to send the Proteas back to South Africa with their tails between their legs as Zimbabwe won the Pran RFL T20 Triangular Series final by nine wickets at Harare Sports Club on Sunday.

18th over – Zimbabwe win with 17 balls to spare as Wayne Parnell dishes up a horrible full toss and Taylor pulls it to the boundary for four.

17th over – Masakadza completes a great tournament by notching his fourth half-century, off 48 balls, pulling a feeble long-hop from Lonwabo Tsotsobe to the midwicket boundary. Masakadza celebrates by bashing the next two balls over mid-on and then mid-off for further boundaries.

15th over – Brendan Taylor completes a blazing 32-ball half-century in extraordinary fashion with six runs. He mistimes a pull off Tsotsobe into the leg side and the batsmen want to steal a second run. Tsotsobe is unable to gather the shy at the stumps, deflecting it past Robin Peterson, who is backing up rather tardily and Taylor gets a bonus four overthrows!

13th over – Masakadza neatly glances Wayne Parnell for four past fine leg.

12th over – Zimbabwe’s hundred is up off just 69 balls, but in fortuitous fashion as Masakadza edges the unlucky Chris Morris through the vacant slip for four.

11th over – Peterson delivers a long-hop which Masakadza massacres into the stands beyond midwicket.

9th over – Taylor brings up the fifty partnership with Masakadza off just 32 balls as he sweeps Peterson fine, with lovely timing, for four more runs.

7th over – Brilliant batting by Taylor as he ramps a Parnell bouncer over the slips for four!

6th over – Carnage as Peterson comes on to bowl and concedes 21 runs in his first over! Taylor greets him with a sweetly-struck sweep for six. The Zimbabwe captain then drives the left-arm spinner powerfully through extra cover for four, before Peterson’s third delivery is dropped a fraction short and Taylor cuts firmly for four more. Masakadza then adds to the pain by launching the last ball of the over for a massive six over long-on.

4th over – Vusi Sibanda is lucky as he top-edges a hook off Morris over the wicketkeeper for four, but is unlucky off the next ball as Farhaan Behardien, substituting for Albie Morkel, takes a brilliant catch at cover-point, snatching a full-blooded slash out of the air. WICKET – Sibanda is out for 23 off 16 balls, with three fours and a six. Zimbabwe captain Taylor comes to the crease and gets a friendly full toss from Morris first ball, stroking it through the covers for four.

3rd over – Tsotsobe starts his second over with a shortish, leg-side delivery and Sibanda flicks it over square-leg for six. Masakadza adds a second boundary in the over as he drives Tsotsobe crisply through mid-off.

2nd over – Another boundary to Vusi Sibanda in the second over as he top-edges a slash off Morris over the slips for four.

1st over – An eventful start to the Zimbabwe innings. Tsotsobe’s first ball straightens into the pads of Masakadza, who is trying to work the ball to leg, but a confident lbw appeal is turned down. The left-arm seamer’s next ball is a horrible wide down leg, followed by a no-ball. Sibanda bashes the free hit through the covers for four.

South Africa innings

South Africa finished around par thanks to Faf du Plessis’ half-century as they scored 146 for six against Zimbabwe in the Pran RFL T20 Triangular Series final at Harare Sports Club on Sunday.

20th over – Wayne Parnell collects two boundaries in Richard Muzhange’s final over as he flicks a low full toss past the unfortunate Stuart Matsikenyeri at backward square-leg and then times a clever little chip shot to perfection to collect a one-bounce four over midwicket. Albie Morkel ends the innings in style as he shuffles down the pitch on off-stump, making the last ball a half-volley which he launches majestically over long-on for six.

19th over – WICKET – Du Plessis’ determined innings comes to an end as he opens his shoulders and aims a massive drive down the ground off Kyle Jarvis. Unfortunately it is higher than it is long and Du Plessis is caught by Hamilton Masakadza at long-on for 66 off 57 balls.

18th over – Wonderful batting by Du Plessis as he steps outside off stump again, goes down on one knee and scoops a full toss from Muzhange over his shoulder and the wicketkeeper for six!

17th over – Du Plessis scoops a low full toss from Jarvis just over a leaping short fine-leg for four runs.

16th over – South Africa’s hundred is up off 91 balls as Du Plessis steps across his stumps and flicks a full ball on leg stump from Muzhange fine for four.

15th over – Morkel ends a very tidy over with a short-arm pull off the hip for four as Christopher Mpofu drops short and on the pads.

13th over – Leg-spinner Graeme Cremer switches ends but Morkel collects boundaries off the first two balls of the over. The first delivery is short and Morkel leans back and pummels it through midwicket; the second is pitched outside leg stump and the left-hander paddles it fine for four more.

12th over – WICKET – An inspired bowling change as part-time off-spinner Malcolm Waller snares the scalp of Dane Vilas, who tries to cut on the move and ends up getting a thin edge, to be caught behind by Brendan Taylor for two.

11th over – WICKET – Justin Ontong (5) clips a low return catch to Prosper Utseya, the ball going through the off-spinner’s hands, but he completes the catch by trapping the ball between his legs!

8th over – WICKET – Leg-spinner Cremer comes on and takes a wicket with his second ball as Colin Ingram top-edges an off-balance cut to short third-man. Ingram is out for 19 off 20 balls.

6th over – Swashbuckling batting by Du Plessis as he dances down the pitch to new bowler Muzhange and slams him through the covers for four. Two balls later, Du Plessis is down the pitch again, meeting the medium-pacer on the full and square-driving him for four more. The over gets worse for Muzhange as Du Plessis is down the wicket again to the next ball, but this time it’s short and an attempted swing to the leg side is skied into the covers, but Stuart Matsikenyeri puts down the catch, reprieving Du Plessis on 12.

5th over – The introduction of spin in the form of Utseya finally brings the first boundary after four-and-a-half overs as Ingram skips down the pitch and launches the off-spinner high and handsome over long-on and on to the clubhouse roof. The second boundary follows two balls later as Ingram edges a slash for four runs to third man.

2nd over – WICKET – Oh no, this is a disastrous start now for South Africa as Hashim Amla (3) swings a short ball from Mpofu to Malcolm Waller running round the square-leg boundary.

1st over – WICKET – What a start for Zimbabwe as Richard Levi is out to the first ball of the match! Levi’s flatfooted prod is beaten by a fine inswinger from Jarvis and is trapped in front of middle stump, lbw for a duck!