He first played cricket at the age of five with his dad and brothers in the backyard of his family home in Suiderkruis Street, Steiltes, in Mbombela. According to his dad, he did this with his leg pads coming up to his chest. He faced his older brothers’ bowling without flinching.

Eighteen years later, on Wednesday night, he faced some of the best bowlers in the world, including quickies Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, when South Africa played Australia in Bloemfontein. Once again, Janneman Malan (23) did not flinch.

He carried his bat to 129 not out off 139 deliveries and played the anchor batting role in the Proteas’ six-wicket victory.

Janneman’s performance was not one of a world-class batsman leading his country to victory… It was more than that.

In the days before Wednesday’s match and when walking out to the crease, Janneman was under pressure facing his ODI future.

In the first ODI at Boland Park in Paarl, he faced the first ball of the match. Starc trapped him LBW. Janneman was out for a golden duck.

The South African ODI team to tour India later this month was to be announced two days later. Janneman’s name was not on the squad list on Monday.

He had been part of the South African squad for the recent ODI series against England – he did not get a game.

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The young batsman watched from the opposite crease on Wednesday night as his captain, and one of the best and most aggressive batsmen in the world, Quinton de Kock, was bowled by Starc. South Africa were 1 for 1 chasing 272 to win.

Over the next three and a bit hours Janneman showed tremendous mental, emotional and physical courage. It was a masterclass innings.

He had his fair share of luck, on one occasion mistiming a reverse sweep that fell to the ground between four Australian fielders. But luck, like courage, is part of a batsman’s makeup.

He shared the man-of-the-match award with bowler Lungi Ngidi (6 for 58 in 10 overs).

Janneman was full of praise for his batting partners.

“Firstly, with Jon Jon Smuts (41-run partnership) and I steadying the ship, and then Heinrich Klaasen (51) came in and brought nice energy to our batting. David Miller (37*) at the end just batted beautifully, and it was a privilege to bat with all of them,” he said at the post-match press conference.

He was also encouraged by his teammates after his golden duck on Saturday.

“A few senior guys put their arms around me. At this level, it is mostly mental, because all of us can play the game. They did their best to help me get over it and help me get in a good space. It is a good squad to be around and everyone gels nicely. That definitely made me feel a bit more at ease,” he said.

No one knows Janneman Malan the cricketer better than the middle brother, André. After all, André was the first bowler Janneman ever faced. He wrote the following shortly after the end of the match on Wednesday night:

“Janneman Malan contended, competed and slayed the dragon. For everyone else, it was the first time they witnessed this, but not for him. He played the moment in his mind so many times; he was so prepared, he did not have to think about it. He knew exactly what to do.

“He visited that moment, regardless of the potential of excruciating pain if it only ended up confined to his mind.

“He showed the mental fortitude of someone much his senior, the physical application of someone much more experienced and the hunger of someone who has not consumed anything to nourish his aching body and soul for close to 100 hours.

“But when you have lived that moment since the time you could form coherent thoughts, it must have felt familiar. As if the dream and obsession he has had ever since I have known him has only revealed itself in the real world at this very moment.”

But there was no one prouder than Janneman’s biggest supporters, his parents Johan and Tessa, who watched the match on television at their home in Kampersrus near Hoedspruit.

“It was amazing and we are proud and grateful. (For Janneman) it all came down to grace, vasbyt and hard work,” they said yesterday.

His parents will be at the final ODI at Senwes Park in Potchefstroom on Saturday. It is a venue where Janneman had many ups and downs early in his career. It will be a homecoming fit for a dragon slayer.

Pieter, André and Janneman Malan were all born in Mbombela. All three are professional cricketers. Janneman attended Laerskool Bergland until his family relocated to Pretoria when he was 11 years old. He played for the Mpumalanga u/11 team.

Mark Greeff, former LVCC Colts captain: “Brilliant knock by Janneman. I’m so happy for him. I am one of the very privileged few to have played a league club game with all 00three brothers. In a Colts game on the bottom field (on a mat) at LVCC, we were a player short and I asked his dad if Janneman can play for us. At the age of eight, he became the youngest CC Colts player ever. 9André (Malan) and Faffie (Faf de Klerk) opened. André got a hundred and Faf a fifty. Janneman didn’t bat, but I brought him on at the end to wrap up the tail with his swing bowling and he took two wickets. He was already so talented at the age of eight.”