South Africa turn to Barbados with hope

Published>Tue, May 04 10 07:48 PM

Barbados, May 4 (IANS) South Africa is hoping the bouncy tracks at Kensington Oval will revive their chances in the World Twenty20 as they prepare to take on minnows Afghanistan in a must-win Group A match here Wednesday.

The Proteas were humbled by India by 14 runs on the low and slow surface at St. Lucia where their bowling attack conceded 186 runs. But they feel Barbados should suit their five-pronged pace attack.

Against India, the lack of spinners turned the heat on South Africa. Roelof van der Merwe was the lone tweaker in the side unlike last year when Van der Merwe and Johan Botha outspun India at Trent Bridge.

South African bowling coach Vincent Barnes believes a return to Barbados, where they played their two warm-up games, will reignite the team's campaign in the tournament.

'I spent the whole day (Saturday) at the venue and spin hardly was a factor and it showed in all four games played there that the seamers took most of the wickets,' Barnes said. 'Barbados is a different venue where there is much more bounce, which will suit our attack, both spinners and fast bowlers.'

The Kensington Oval track has the reputation of more bounce and carry, especially with the new ball, before slowing down as a match runs its course.

South Africa will look to exploit these conditions, especially as Afghanistan were exposed in their inability to handle short balls against India.

Indian left-armer Ashish Nehra tested the Afghanistan batsmen with plenty of short pitched deliveries and picked up three wickets.

The Afghanistan team, however, won hearts with their zeal for the game and they did manage to put a decent total against the Indians. Their opener Noor Ali and Asghar Stanikzai played quality innings to stabilise the Afghanistan innings while the bowlers too put up a decent show in what was their first international outing against a major cricketing nation.

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