South Africa head coach Mark Boucher cited “fear of failure” and lack of self-belief and intent as major causes of his side’s unprecedented 2-1 ODI series loss to Bangladesh at home.
A massively improved Taskin Ahmed took eight wickets from the first and the third one-dayers that South Africa lost in Centurion. But Boucher reckons things wouldn’t have worsened to the extent they did if the hosts had played out the duo of Shakib Al Hasan and Mehidy Hasan better.
In the series opener at SuperSport Park, the Proteas let Shakib (0/54) and Mehidy (4/61) get away in a high-scoring game with not much on offer for spinners, and in the second, they let them play able allies to Taskin, returning with miserly figures of 2/24 and 1/27, respectively.
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With no escape from either end, South Africa were bundled out for 155 in the decider and lost the game by nine wickets with more than 23 overs left in the proceedings.
“We lacked the intent today. After we got off to a very good start today, we went to sleep. It is certainly not the way we want to play. We wanted to take the game forward after a good start. We just didn’t manage to do that.”
Boucher was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
“I think they bowled well but you have to take some risks to create scoring opportunities. It was almost like we went out with the fear of getting out, rather than going out to set a total. The way the wicket played, it was over 300,”
he added.
Boucher said South Africa played spin a lot better in their previous ODI series in Sri Lanka and at home against India in January. But couldn’t reciprocate against Bangladesh under pressure.
Series defeat to Bangladesh is South Africa’s first in any format of the game and has also put them in a vulnerable spot in the ICC Super League. Having conceded games to Sri Lanka, Ireland and now Bangladesh, the Proteas are now placed ninth in the standings with just four wins from their 13 matches.
