South Africa lost their fifth World Cup semi-final to Australia in Kolkata, after they played some remarkable cricket during the tournament. Here are the player ratings for the South Africa squad.
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Quinton de Kock – 9
10 matches, 594 runs at 59.40, SR: 107.02, HS: 174
A stunning farewell tournament for De Kock. His five centuries were a huge part of South Africa’s success in the group stage, and he came alive behind the stumps in the semi-final. He couldn’t repeat the hundred he scored against Australia in the group stage, his last knock in ODI cricket going down as an ill-fitting three off 14 balls. The pick of his innings, however, was the 174 against Bangladesh, fulfilling his role perfectly to prime Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller for another assault
Temba Bavuma – 2
8 matches, 145 runs at 18.12, SR: 73.60, HS: 35
Bavuma’s tournament will go down as a divisive one. He led South Africa to another tournament semi-final but couldn’t do better than the Proteas captains who went before. With the bat, he was poor, and less than fully fit for most of the competition. Nevertheless, his position in the side was pivotal, and he deserves some credit for the brand of cricket South Africa have implemented.
Rassie van der Dussen – 8
10 matches, 448 runs at 49.77, SR: 84.52, HS: 133
Something of a breakthrough tournament for Van der Dussen. Regardless of his place in the side over the last few years, he came into the tournament as their most under pressure batter. A century in the first game melted that away before another against New Zealand made it unimaginable that he would be dropped. As an anchor at No.3, he bridges between the big hitters at the start and the end.
Reeza Hendricks – 6
2 matches, 97 runs at 48.50, SR: 103.19, HS: 85
Only two matches for Hendricks but that didn’t stop the calls for him to replace Bavuma in the semi-final. He played an important hand against England, scoring 85 after De Kock fell early, before a less impressive performance against the Netherlands.
Aiden Markram – 7
10 matches, 406 runs at 45.11, SR: 110.92, HS: 106
1 wicket at 85.00, ER: 4.59, BBI: 1-23
Markram kicked off South Africa’s tournament with what was at the time, the fastest hundred in its history. That completed the remarkable ODI breakthrough he’s had this year, showing his versatility as both an anchor and a hitter. Other innings of importance against Bangladesh and Pakistan boost his rating but, much like South Africa’s campaign, he fell away in the second half.
David Miller – 8
10 matches, 356 runs at 44.5o, SR: 107.87, HS: 101
Miller completed his tournament with the first century in a men’s World Cup knockout game for a South Africa player. It was a different type of innings from the Miller we’re used to seeing. His 101 came off 116 balls and it was solely up to him to ensure a good score was reached. Some of his other performances were far more brutal, his 53 off 30 balls against New Zealand springing to mind. He’s carved out his role alongside Klaasen as South Africa’s big finishers, a part they played superbly throughout the tournament.
Heinrich Klaasen – 8
10 matches, 373 runs at 41.44, SR: 133.21, HS: 109
It’s hard to look past Klaasen’s century against England in assessing his campaign. 109 off 67 balls in brutal heat, suffering from what looked like vicious cramp and taking the defending champions to the cleaners. There was the 90 against Bangladesh and even an important 47 today, but that knock will be the abiding memory of his brutality.
Marco Jansen – 7
9 matches, 17 wickets at 26.47, ER: 6.52, BBI: 3-31
157 runs at 31.40, SR: 110.56, HS: 75*
Jansen was arguably the most important player in South Africa’s line-up. Their lack of all-rounders meant there was pressure on him with both bat and ball, coming in at No.8 and opening the bowling. His 75* against England showed him more than capable in the former department, along with a crucial knock against Pakistan, and his 17 wickets show his importance in the latter. In the absence of Anrich Nortje, the pressure was on Jansen to step up and keep pace with the senior pace bowlers, in actual fact he outshone them all.
Gerald Coetzee – 8
8 matches, 20 wickets at 19.80, ER: 6.23, BBI: 4-44
South Africa’s breakout star of the tournament – Coetzee announced himself on the international stage. Only in the squad as Nortje’s replacement, by the semi-final he was preferred to Lungi Ngidi when one had to miss out for Tabraiz Shamsi. He finishes as South Africa’s leading wicket-taker, and only failed to take at least two wickets in one of his innings.
Kagiso Rabada – 6
9 matches, 13 wickets at 28.00, ER: 4.99, BBI: 3-33
Rabada had a passable tournament, but fell short of his own high standards. However, it shouldn’t be forgotten that he operated almost solely as a first-change bowler, in order to give the others the help of the new ball.
Keshav Maharaj – 8
10 matches, 15 wickets at 24.66, ER: 4.15, BBI: 47.5-46
59 runs at 19.66, SR: 73.75, HS: 40
Maharaj’s spell in the semi-final brought South Africa so close to a place in the final. He took out Travis Head with the first ball of his spell and looked dangerous throughout. He bowled few loose balls, and wasn’t afraid to toss the ball up. The innings he played with the bat against Pakistan was also hugely important.
Tabraiz Shamsi –
4 matches, 9 wickets at 23.55, ER: 5.60, BBI: 4-60
Shamsi only played four matches, operating as the luxury spinner coming in for turning pitches. But, he still made a massive impact. His four-for against Pakistan, where the other spinners failed to take wickets earned him the Player of the Match award. And he bowled some rippers against Australia in the semi-final.
Lungi Ngidi – 4
8 matches, 10 wickets at 35.50, ER: 5.86, BBI: 2-26
Ngidi picked up ten wickets and bowled mostly tidily, but flew under the radar next to Coetzee’s aggression. He also struggled in South Africa’s final two group games, going for runs against India and Afghanistan. When the decision came for which seamer should drop out for the semi-final, Ngidi was the one to miss out.
Andile Phehlukwayo – 6
1 match, 1 wicket at 36.00, ER: 5.14, BBI: 1-36
39 runs, SR: 105.40, HS: 39*
Just the one match for Phehlukwayo in the tournament, in which he put in a good performance with bat and ball.
Lizaad Williams – 5
1 match, 2 wickets at 28.00, ER: 6.46, BBI: 2-56
Two wickets for Williams in his only appearance. Given that he was South Africa’s second replacement when Sisanda Magala pulled up injured, it’s no surprise he didn’t factor in their plans much.
