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Janneman Malan
Johan Pretorius / Gallo Images / Getty Images
- Proteas T20 starter Janneman Malan says they have a perfect opportunity to stage a comeback to save the series against Pakistan.
- Malan’s 44 helped SA get off to a good start in Thursday’s series opener, but they lost their way when he was fired.
- Malan also praised the leadership of Heinrich Klaasen.
Exciting Proteas T20 starter Janneman Malan says Saturday’s second T20 against Pakistan in Lahore is the perfect opportunity for them to fight.
Malan’s ballistic 44 set up South Africa’s 170 chase in the first T20 on Thursday, but the visitors failed badly at intermission to lose by three runs.
Malan, who says there is room for improvement for the team, coped well with the closers, but was eliminated by a brilliant Usman Qadir who definitively stopped SA’s pursuit momentum.
“When you play at this level against Pakistan, there will always be pressure. I think it is a good opportunity to recover strongly and show that ability. In one game, the momentum can change for the end game. It is a good opportunity to show struggle and come back strong, “said Malan.
“There is room for improvement in terms of maybe committing more. Perhaps one can have clearer plans. “
Malan and his starting partner Reeza Hendricks (54) scored more than half of SA’s runs, but the latter only got going after the loss of SA’s intermissions.
Hendricks set the pace and represented SA’s best chance of winning the game. When it sold out at 18, SA’s hopes faltered with him despite a late rally by Dwaine Pretorius and Bjorn Fortuin bringing SA close.
Malan acknowledges that the batting unit has a job, which is to make sure they set winning totals.
“What you want to do as a batting unit is win games for the team. We are not that far from clicking. We had a couple of partnerships, but we need a great partnership with the guys coming up, backing up their strengths and trusting what they have… we’re not far from that, ”Malan said.
“Reeza was in a difficult position when I came out because he wasn’t facing a lot of balls. He kept a cool head and raised the hit rate again. I am happy that he had a good entrance and was unlucky with his dismissal ”.
Malan had a reasonably good assessment of Heinrich Klaasen’s leadership in his first game in charge.
“Is very good. His head is calm. Talk to the point and have clear plans. I think he is a good captain ”.
