Proteas lament missed chance in opening T20I defeat to Australia

The Proteas were left to rue a crucial dropped catch in their 17-run loss in the opening T20I against Australia at the Marrara Cricket Ground in Darwin on Sunday, wicketkeeper-batter Ryan Rickelton admitted afterwards.

South Africa had been set a target of 179, after skipper Aiden Markram won the toss and chose to field first. The Proteas managed to peg back the hosts after a furious start, and appeared on course to chase down a modest total until some big hitting by Tim David took the game away from them.

David smashed eight sixes in a blistering 83 from 52 balls to lift Australia to a competitive total. South Africa could only manage 169 for nine in reply, thanks largely to 71 from Rickelton.

Young speedster Kwena Maphaka starred with the ball for the Proteas, finishing with figures of 4/20. However, the Proteas had a golden chance to dismiss David when he was on 56, and Rickelton admitted that was a turning point in the match.

“I thought we bowled really well," said Rickleton, at the post-match media conference..

"They came out playing their shots. If we took that one on Tim when I think he was on 40 or 50, we could have bowled them out for 120, and that’s a whole different game and a different conversation we’re having."

“The exciting thing is that they came out guns blazing and we managed to create a lot of chances, so that’s quite exciting for us as a group – the fact that we could pin such a formidable batting line-up down a little bit.

“There are one or two things to tweak in the batting line-up, just a bit more smarts and, hopefully, a better platform to start off. But I think the guys are confident in what we have in the change room and hopefully we can bring out something better on Tuesday.”

The wicketkeeper-batter also was not totally happy with his performance with the bat, despite top-scoring for the visitors with a knock that featured seven fours and one maximum.

“I just struggled to get going, I guess. No excuse, I just tried to hit the ball and I kept clothing it.

"So, a bit disappointed. It looks a bit better than it felt, but in the end I didn’t find my groove quick enough to get the team over the line,” he said.

Asked if the Proteas had been unsettled by Australia’s aggressive approach from the first ball, Rickelton replied:

“It catches you a little off guard if you haven’t played T20 cricket in a while. I guess it’s a bit like the IPL in a way – the guys hit the first ball for six.

“International cricket’s a little bit different; sometimes you maybe hold back a little bit because there’s probably more at stake. They definitely came out with full intent but, like I say, full intent is always going to create one or two chances and today I thought the guys held their nerve really well.”

The second T20I in the series is also in Darwin on Tuesday, with the third and final T20 in Cairns, which will also host the first of three ODIs between the arch-rivals.