Coach Domingo sure AB will be fit to put in a “big performance” against India

The cricketing world may have been amazed by the scale of Pakistan’s turnaround against South Africa in Wednesday’s ICC Champions Trophy match at Edgbaston, but South African coach Russell Domingo was not.

“No complacency on our side,” said Domingo, given that Pakistan had been heavily beaten by India just three days earlier. “We played a game of cricket; Pakistan played better than us. That's nothing to do with complacency today as far as I'm concerned.

“Pakistan, they are a proud cricketing nation. I know when they have a bad game, everybody jumps on their back and says how bad they are. I can tell you now, our position, I don't think they are bad at all. They are a dangerous side. They have some world-class players. They are always going to be a threat.”

Pakistan’s bowlers jumped South Africa after the Proteas won the toss and elected to bat. An inspired fielding performances saw some fine catches taken, runs cut off, and pressure mount.

In the face of it South Africa subsided to 118/6, before some recovery thanks to David Miller’s cautious 75 not out took them to 219 from their 50 overs.

Pakistan was 119/3 from 27 overs, well ahead of the Duckworth-Lewis rate, when rain came down and the game was eventually called off as a Pakistani win.

There was no cause for ruing having made the decision to bat first, said Domingo.

“Hindsight is a great sight. It didn't work out for us today. We just thought we would make first use of the wicket, considering it's the third game on that particular pitch in the last five or six days.

"You generally think Pakistan's spinners are a big strength of theirs, so we tried to make first use of the wicket. We knew there might be a chance of rain, but we also had reports saying that it might come after 11 o'clock and the game was scheduled to be finished at 9pm or 9.30pm.”

The performance of those Pakistan spinners was key. Star batsman AB de Villiers made his first ever golden duck in 221 One-Day Internationals, caught at backward point off Imad Wasim.

Imad took 2 for 20 from his eight overs, while Mohammed Hafeez and 18-year-old leg-spinner Shadab Khan also bowled tightly. The way they dragged down South Africa was also something the Proteas’ coach claimed did not worry him.

“Generally our sides play spin really well. We pride ourselves on the way we play against spin. The way we played India in terms of the one-day cricket in India, we played really well against Indian spinners in Indian conditions, in the one-day campaigns.

“We've beaten Sri Lanka under their conditions, and so it's not a concern for me. Conditions suited them, and you have got to give Pakistan spinners credit, they bowled really well today.

“I think the disappointing factor is that not one of our top four got through the new ball to look after those spinners. So every time, there was a new batter coming in facing that spin. That's always going to be tough to do against quality spinners.”

He was also upbeat about de Villiers’s prospects both physically and in terms of form for the coming game against India. “He's a quality player. Everybody gets a first-baller. It's just taken him 200 games.

“He did pick up a little bit of a niggle with his hamstring today, but the medical team will look at him. I can't comment until they have had a look. But I'm by no means concerned. I'm expecting him to put in a big performance on Sunday. He's that type of player; that when the team needs him he'll turn it up. I'm sure about that.”

That will be necessary, against the most imposing team of the tournament so far. Had South Africa won against Pakistan, its place in the semi-finals would be all but assured. Now, its final game against India becomes must-win.