Cape Town - Proteas all-rounder JP Duminy says their batsmen need to take the blame after losing the ODI series 2-1 to Bangladesh.
As it happened: Bangladesh v SA - 3rd ODI
Bangladesh thrashed the Proteas by 9 wickets in the third ODI at Chittagong on Wednesday to claim their first ever series victory over the Proteas in any format.
On Wednesday, the South Africans posted a meagre 168/9 in 40 overs, before the hosts easily reached their Duckworth-Lewis rain-adjusted target of 170 with plenty of balls to spare.
Duminy admitted that the batsmen let the team down.
“There’s a lot of learning to take out if it (the series defeat),” he said at a press conference in Chittagong on Wednesday. “We pride ourselves on our batters getting big runs and partnerships. Unfortunately we haven’t stuck to our game plans that have kept us successful over the last while.
“At the end of the day, we weren’t good enough. We’ve played seven batters for a long period of time and have been successful up until the World Cup. But unfortunately coming here we haven’t produced any sort of massive performances with the bat. And that’s something we have to relook at and make sure that we get it right a few months from now in India.”
Duminy was also full of praise for the hosts, who have now won four home series in a row against Zimbabwe, Pakistan, India and now South Africa, winning 12 out of 14 ODIs in the process.
“You’ve got to give credit to Bangladesh as well. They played exceptionally well. Not only have their spinners done well, their seamers have done well as well, especially in these conditions. They have used it to their strength. Their change-ups have been really good. So well done to them.”
The Proteas now shift their attentions to a two-Test series, starting in Chittagong on Tuesday.
“The tour is not over yet, we’ve still got two Test matches and that’s going to be a big series for us. Hopefully we can end off the series on a high,” said Duminy.