Here comes Andile Phehlukwayo … a new cricketing hero – from Margate!
South Africa seems to be returning to the days of multiple all-rounders, with Andile Phehlukwayo very much in the mix.
IT’S hard not to get emotional about Andile Phehlukwayo’s swashbuckling performance to help David Miller in seeing the Proteas to a stunning victory over Australia at Kingsmead tonight (Wednesday).
A little background before I get to the cricket. My wife has tolerated my sporting (mainly cricket) obsession. She waits patiently for games to finish before she can watch IDx and other such channels.
Not tonight. When Phehlukwayo came in to bat she started paying attention.
I explained he was a Margate boy – yes, he attended Margate Primary before getting a hockey scholarship to Glenwood High.
Thank goodness he chose cricket. He’s the type of player, in a Lance Klusener type mould, that South Africa has been longing for.
I also explained to the wife that some people thought he was a ‘quota’ player.
And that I have tried to explain to anyone who will listen that he isn’t, but the chatter on various websites has not always supportive of that notion.
So I’m thrilled he has proved all that to be nonsense. He’s a class act and hopefully will be around for a long time.
He can bowl. He’s a clever bowler. Not outright lightning fast, but rather a bit like West Indian Dwayne Bravo, although quicker, both through the air, and off the pitch.
There had been talk about his rocket launching ability with the bat.
We got a small glimpse at The Wanderers in the previous game when he nonchalantly pasted the Aussie bowlers directly back over their heads for some boundaries.
But there was no real pressure in that game.
At Kingsmead, with South Africa chasing a mammoth 372 for victory and the series, it looked like the way had been lost.
Until AP and ‘Killer Miller’ joined up.
Phehlukawyo started slowly, which was okay as Miller was going like a freight train.
Yes, he got a bit lucky (being given not out when replays suggest he nicked one early in his innings), but every sportsman on the face of the earth needs some good fortune now and then.
Then he swung way too hard. Way, way too hard. But you could sense he was going to connect soon, and boy when he did, the ball stayed hit for a long time.
He ended up scoring 42* to chase down a record score at Kingsmead.
Some may say this wasn’t exactly the most fearsome of bowling attacks ever to wear yellow kit, but the point is that AP (who Kevin ‘KP’ Pietersen spoke highly of during a stint back at the Dolphins recently) managed to produce an innings that mattered under pressure.
And man, he seemed to be loving the cauldron.
It was clear that his teammates were enjoying it too, judging by the multiple bear hugs afterwards.
So anyway, as Miller made a century and AP lent valuable support, my wife sat on the edge of the couch, face in hands, watching his every shot.
When he played and missed, or miscued one, she sucked in air!
When he clobbered one over the fence, she beamed with delight and punched the air.
Ah, so now you know how it feels… are you too a convert to this marvellous game of cricket?
If so, then Andile Phehlukwayo is to blame!
And I couldn’t be happier.
Oh, and he is only 20.
At the risk of getting a little carried away, I can see him bowling the final over or hitting the winning runs in South Africa winning a World Cup or ICC tournament in the future.
Why not?
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