Head coach Mark Boucher was all praise for South Africa’s young No.3 batter Keegan Petersen after his tremendous performance helped the team keep a mighty strong Indian side at bay and win the three-match Test series 1-1.
Petersen was the hero of South Africa’s successful chase of 212 in the final innings of the series decider in Cape Town on January 14. The young gun struck a magnificent 82, backing his stand-out 72 in the first-innings that had kept South Africa in the contest.
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After an indifferent start to his Test career in the West Indies last June, Petersen came into his own versus India against their best-ever pace attack in challenging set of conditions across Centurion, Johannesburg and Cape Town. He made three crucial half-centuries and made 276 runs across six innings with an average of 46.
The 28-year-old was handed the ‘Player of Series’ award for his great exploits, ensuring the visitors’ final frontier remains unbreached.
“Keegan probably didn’t start off as well as what he would have liked in West Indies. He didn’t start too well at SuperSport Park but he has always shown signs of the player we’re seeing right now. He just stuck to his guns,”
Boucher was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
Boucher, the former wicketkeeper-batter, noted how difficult it is to bat at No.3 in Test cricket, especially in South African conditions where pacers make the ball talk all day. Adding thus,
“the way he has come through in this series, I am lost for words. In a big series like this, against big players, to be man of the series is fully deserved.”
The magnitude of such an inexperienced South African side collectively beating a rampaging Indian side after their triumphs in Australia and England and winning the series after being 1-0 isn’t lost on Boucher, who agreed to feeling a touch “nervous” heading into Day 4 into Cape Town.
South Africa’s highest successful chase at the venue remains 236 at the venue back in 2011 versus Australia. But Boucher was aware of the difficulty of chasing 212 here against a tough Indian attack, including Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Shami.
