South Africa captain Faf du Plessis wants team to put England defeat behind them


South Africa captain Faf du Plessis wants to erase memory of England defeat: 'We have to put it to bed'

  • Faf du Plessis wants South Africa to consign defeat by England to history
  • Proteas collapsed to 104-run loss against host nation in Thursday's opener 
  • He said: 'As disappointed as we are in our game we have to put it to bed'

By Press Association Reporter

Published: 17:31 EDT, 30 May 2019 | Updated: 17:33 EDT, 30 May 2019

South Africa captain Faf du Plessis intends to move on quickly from his side's opening-day World Cup defeat to England.

The Proteas were given the stiff challenge of facing the top-ranked side and tournament hosts in front of a sold-out Oval crowd and came out of the experience with a 104-run defeat.

Things had started brightly, as Du Plessis' gamble of opening the bowling with leg-spinner Imran Tahir brought the wicket of Jonny Bairstow with the second delivery of the day.

Faf du Plessis wants his South Africa side to put the defeat by England to bed 

But England gradually set about establishing their dominance, rallying to a highly competitive 311 for eight before dismissing their visitors for 207 more than 10 overs ahead of time.

'This is when it's important for us to look at the World cup for what it is, England were better than us in all three facets of the game,' admitted Du Plessis.

'As disappointed as we are in our game we have to put it to bed. England bat longer than any other side in the World Cup so for them to score so few runs in the last 15 overs was a great achievement - 350 has almost been their par score lately.

'But 311 is still a great score and we didn't start well enough.'

Tahir has never bowled the first over of a game before but Du Plessis admits it was an innovation long in the making.

Du Plessis thinks the Proteas will learn from the loss as they move forwards

Jofra Archer tormented the visitors with his pace, bounce and variation at the Oval

'It was something we thought about a year ago,' he revealed.

As for the impressive display by Jofra Archer, the England newcomer who took three wickets and forced Hashim Amla to retire hurt for an extended period after being hit in the helmet, Du Plessis was suitably impressed.

'Obviously Archer bowled really well with the new ball. A lot of our guys hadn't faced him before,' he said.

'It will take time for international batters to get used to him. He's a little bit nippy when he hits the crease. That's why he is that X-factor.

'He bowled slower ball, slower ball, and then a quick bouncer. There is some thinking behind it. When we play them again we will know his short ball is his wicket taking ball.'

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