Ottis Gibson: “[It] was very disappointing from a batting point of view”
South Africa head coach Ottis Gibson has admitted that he was less than impressed with the Proteas’ performance with the bat in the fifth ODI against India in Port Elizabeth.
South Africa did well to limit India to 274, especially as opening batsman Rohit Sharma struck a superb 115.
However, after making a solid start to their innings, the Proteas began to lose wickets in a hurry. In the end, Hashim Amla, who was the top-scorer with 71, stand-in captain Aiden Markram, David Miller and wicketkeeper Heinrich Klaasen were the only batsmen to reach double figures.
As a result, South Africa stumbled and ended up being bowled out for 201, which saw India claim a 73-run win and secured their first-ever bilateral ODI series win in South Africa as they took an unassailable 4-1 lead in the six-match series.
“We succumbed quite easily tonight to be bowled out in 42 overs, [it] was very disappointing from a batting point of view,” Gibson was quoted as saying by sacricketmag.com. “Even with the bowling, there was some soft boundaries which has gone on the whole series. [I want] a little bit more fight with the bat.
“The India spinners got six or five again tonight. Over the course of almost every game, they have picked up at least five wickets. I know they are very good, but we are better than [what] we showed with the bat. I would like to see us naturally prove ourselves in that regard.”
Gibson added that he thought his side had an excellent chance of reducing the series deficit to 3-2 when they were chasing 275 to win.
“I thought at the halfway stage we gave ourselves a very good chance to keep ourselves in the series,” he admitted. “To bowl them out for 270 was a great effort from the bowlers, and we let ourselves down with the bat.
“It’s something we have been talking about for five games now. We showed at the Wanderers that we can play better than we have done but tonight was disappointing.”