South African captain Faf Du Plessis could not help but be heartened when the Proteas earned a nine-wicket victory over Pakistan in the sides’ second test Sunday in Cape Town, clinching the three-test series.
“I’m happy that we are dominating teams at the moment,” Du Plessis told the Sunday Times after South Africa’s seventh straight victory in a home test. “Not too long ago we were No. 7 in the world and losing a few series and not playing the way we liked. The first thing we said was that we need to win home series. We need to take care of them and play well and consistent.”
The victory was also the 10th in 14 test series since Ottis Gibson took over as coach. And when it was over Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur complained that the pitches in Centurion and Cape Town were “inconsistent” and “bowler-friendly,” according to the Times.
Du Plessis countered by saying that he and his fellow batsmen “never ask for ridiculous pitches,” just those “with a bit of pace and bounce.”
“When you travel and you expect flat pitches, it doesn’t happen anymore,” he added, again according to the Times. “Cricket is not the way it used to be like four, five years ago, when 400 and 500 runs (were) being scored.”
Du Plessis will serve a one-test suspension when the series wraps up Friday, the ICC having meted out the punishment because of South Africa’s slow over rate Sunday.