TRIANGULAR SERIES
Faf du Plessis and Dale Steyn provided the individual highlights as the Castle Lager Proteas scored a conclusive six-wicket victory over Australia in the final of the Triangular Series in Harare on Saturday.
“There is no doubt that our ODI team is improving every day,” commented CSA Chief Executive, Haroon Lorgat. “Over the past 10 months they have enjoyed outstanding success with series wins over India and Australia, the two previously highest ranked sides on the ICC ODI rankings table."
“What has been particularly pleasing has been their growth as a team and the manner in which they have adjusted after losing legends to retirement."
“The path is now set for them to grow in stature as they prepare for more tough away series in New Zealand and Australia in October and November.”
Du Plessis received the Batsman of the Series and Man of the Series awards while Prosper Utseya received The Pride of Zimbabwe award.
LEADING BATSMAN & LEADING WICKET-TAKER
Faf du Plessis (SA): 464 runs. Highest score: 126. Average: 92.8. Strike rate: 98.51
Aaron Finch (Aus): 250 runs. Highest score: 102. Average: 50.0. Strike rate: 75.75
Mitchell Marsh (Aus): 222 runs. Highest score: 89. Average: 55.5. Strike rate: 96.52
AB de Villiers (SA): 215 runs. Highest score: 136 not out. Average: 107.5. Strike rate: 116.84
Hashim Amla (SA): 172 runs. Highest score: 66. Average: 34.4. Strike rate: 73.50
Dale Steyn (SA): 10 wickets. Best bowling: 4-35. Average: 21.30. Economy: 4.68
Nathan Lyon (Aus): 7 wickets. Best bowling: 4-44. Average: 25.71. Economy: 4.86
Prosper Utseya (Zim): 7 wickets. Best bowling: 5-36. Average: 25.71. Economy: 4.50
Ryan McLaren (SA): 6 wickets. Best bowling: 3-24. Average: 24.0. Economy: 6.0
John Nyumbu (Zim): 6 wickets. Best bowling: 3-42. Average: 31.5. Economy: 5.25
ICC RELIANCE ONE DAY INTERNATIONAL RANKINGS
Reliance ICC ODI Team Rankings (as on 6 September, after England-India and Tri-Series.
South Africa's victory in the final of the Tri-Series on Saturday meant that India held onto the number-one position by a fraction of a point.
India and South Africa are equal at 113 ratings points. Had South Africa won all of their Tri-Series matches, then they would have claimed the No.1 position.
Australia entered the series in the number-one position but its three-wicket defeat to Zimbabwe cost it three valuable ratings points, which resulted in dropping to 111 ratings points. Australia needed to beat South Africa in the final to regain the number-one spot, but the defeat meant it finished on equal points with Sri Lanka, at 111. So Sri Lanka is ranked third and Australia fourth.
Du Plessis and Steyn, the leading run-scorer and wicket-taker respectively in the tri-series in Zimbabwe, moved up the ICC ODI rankings.
Du Plessis scored 464 runs by scoring three centuries and a 96 and was rewarded with a jump of 33 places to 11 in the list for ODI batsmen. If du Plessis scored another century, he would have become the first batsman to score four tons in a series.
Moreover, du Plessis is now the fourth South African batsman to feature inside the top 11 with captain AB de Villiers regained the No.1 spot from Hashim Amla, while Quinton de Kock slipped two places to ninth.
Taking 10 wickets for 212 runs, Steyn moved up one spot to number three in the bowling rankings. Imran Tahir and Aaron Phangiso also achieved career-best rankings. Tahir moved up 10 places to 26th position while Phangiso gained 28 spots and is now in 68th spot.
South Africa's next assignment will be the away series in New Zealand (ODIs) and Australia (ODIs and T20s) in October and November.
