South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis has backed Hashim Amla to come good in the 2019 ICC World Cup even as the opening batsman’s poor form with the bat continued.
Amla was dismissed for just six runs in Monday’s clash against the Windies which was ultimately abandoned due to persistent showers. It continued a poor run of form for the veteran batsman with his previous two innings against England and India yielding just 19 runs combined.
“Hash is a class player,” Faf du Plessis said after the abandoned game at Southampton.
“You know it’s tough on a wicket like that because, when you are opening up the innings, you need a bit of luck to go your way.
“Like most of our batters, it’s just a matter of getting in, and getting those starts converted into runs, because if you can get through the first 10-15 overs, that’s when the scores come.”
South Africa had been reduced to 29-2 with the bat by Windies before the game was ultimately called off. It has left the Proteas with just one point to show for after four matches with their previous three clashes ending in losses.
The South Africans might very well need to win all their remaining five matches if they are to advance the semi-finals of the World Cup but du Plessis is not thinking too far ahead just yet.
“It is too far away. Right now, for us, we need to focus on our performance,” he stated.
“If we can get our performance sorted out, our skills, our confidence back up where it needs to be, and start getting on a roll of two or three games, you can only really look at those things when it comes to the last week of the tournament.
“Right now, for us, we need to focus on our performance. If we can get our performance sorted out, our skills, our confidence back up where it needs to be, and start getting on a roll of two or three games, you can only really look at those things when it comes to the last week of the tournament.”
The Proteas will next face bottom-placed Afghanistan at Cardiff on June 15.
