South African skipper Faf De Plessis said on Monday that paceman Dale Steyn had kept the billing of the best in the business against New Zealand in the ICC World Twenty20 in Chittagong. South Africa were in danger of losing the crucial match against New Zealand at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium when the latter required only seven runs in the last over with five wickets in hand.
But Steyn came in to bowl the final over and showed the world his true class as he allowed just four runs and picked up two wickets.
‘Dale Steyn proved today why he has been the world’s best bowler for such a long period,’ said Du Plessis.
‘I thought New Zealand got themselves in a position where they should have won the game and something special was required for us to try and get away,’ said Du Plessis.
‘I did have the confidence in the back of my mind; at the back of my mind I said anything under eight would be tough. We got it down to seven, but when you start like that, with three dot balls, you feel like you have a chance and also we didn’t want Taylor on strike and we did exactly that,’ said Du Plessis.
‘[Taylor] was hitting the ball sweetly, so it’s important, you should try and make sure he is off strike,’ he said.
Ross Taylor scored 63 runs but did not receive the strike until the last ball.
-With New Age input
