Exclusive: JP Duminy Tips Proteas to Thrive Again on Batting-Friendly Lahore Pitch

Former Proteas batting coach JP Duminy was impressed with the aggressive and positive approach employed by the Proteas batters in the first T20I in Rawalpindi and expects more of the same in the second match in Lahore on Friday.

How will the wicket in Lahore Play?

After winning the first T20I by 55 runs in Rawalpindi on Tuesday, South Africa head to Lahore for the second match, 1-0 up in the three-match series.

In the recently concluded Test series between South Africa and Pakistan, the main difference between the wicket in Rawalpindi (2nd Test) and Lahore (1st Test) was that the latter turned significantly more.

Now, would this be the case in the second T20I on Friday?

Former Proteas batting coach JP Duminy doesn’t think it will be the case. Duminy told SportsBoom.co.za that the wicket in Lahore could actually be a good batting surface.

“There's probably a strong likelihood that the wicket won't be the same as it would be in the Test match. I think there's probably going to be a good batting surface here,” Duminy told SportsBoom.co.za in an exclusive interview.

“There might be a little bit of turn and if you think about the first T20, there was a large chunk of the overs in the 20 overs of bowling that you saw quite a bit of spin and what was impressive is the aggressive nature that South Africa adopted, particularly in the first two deliveries of every over, they tried to get a boundary."

“Whenever there was an opportunity to pounce, they took it, and I think that's a winning formula in trying to dominate against spin, and I think that's no different going into the second and third T20s."

“I really enjoyed the fact that they were willing to play the cross bat shots, to sweep, even reverse sweep, take the aerial routes, and use their feet."

“They were not just sitting and waiting for the bad ball. They were actually taking the positive option and looking for the boundary, and that always bodes well, I believe, when you're trying to dominate spin, is to take it to them, not wait for the bad ball."

“I think that's really a recipe for success in T20 cricket, particularly against spin, and I thought South Africa showed a great positive mentality and attitude towards their options against spin, and I suspect that's going to be the case going into game two and three in Lahore as well.”

Bosch’s five-for & assessment

Corbin Bosch returned figures of 4/14 in the first T20I in Rawalpindi, his best figures in the shortest format of the game.

Duminy lauded Bosch, and the Lungi Ngidi Proteas bowling attack that played in the first match, including Lizaad Williams, Nandre Burger and the spinner George Linde.

“Importantly, I observed that what the Proteas did well was taking some insights into the first innings. When Pakistan bowled, they realised that there was some variable bounce in the wicket, and there were a few cracks. So importantly, allow the wicket to be the variation,” said Duminy.

“So, they were trying to be very consistent, in particular, Corbin Bosch being consistent on hitting the top of off stump. I saw Lungi Ngidi got that right as well. So did Lazard Williams. And no matter what happened in terms of how Pakistan batters responded, they still stuck to that game plan and allowed the wicket to be the variation."

“They got quite a few wickets that way, and I think that was a large part of the success for Corbin. His natural ability to hit a good length consistently is his strength, and the wicket suited it well."

“The communication likely to be from the batters that were in the middle, for example, Reeza and Quinny, would have communicated that they found that length to be the most difficult to play, particularly against the seamers. All the seamers executed that plan really well on the night.”

Opportunities for Reeza and Quinton

Proteas opening batters Reeza Hendricks and Quinton de Kock had a good game on Tuesday, with Hendricks scoring 60 and De Kock an entertaining 23.

With the first-choice openers Ryan Rickelton and Aiden Markram rested for the Pakistan T20I series, Hendricks and De Kock have an opportunity to contest for the opening spots, given that the T20 World Cup is in three months.

“Reeza had a really good game, scoring 60. Quinny showed great glimpses of what he's been capable of consistently over a period of time, and importantly, is really just trying to grab the opportunity with both hands and trying not to put too much pressure on yourself in terms of trying to get that position,” said Duminy.

“You would have heard the term just follow the process, but more importantly, it is trying to understand what the process is. If I put my player's hat on, if I think about Reeza and Quinny are really just trying to understand how do I be successful in scoring runs."

“I need to understand conditions, I need to know who my opposition is, what my options are against the opposition, and just trying really to execute and commit to the options that I feel are going to be good on the night, according to the conditions."

"And that's all you have control over, and you saw quite a large chunk of that with that opening pair, where they really just back their ability to execute their skills."

“I love the fact that they took the aerial route in the power play. Whenever they got an opportunity to free their arms, they really committed fully to it, and I think that's the formula, really, to try and be successful on good batting wickets. So, long may it continue for the rest of the series.”

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