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Cape Town - Lonwabo Tsotsobe became the fastest South African to take 50
ODI wickets with his match performance of 3 for 51 in the fourth Sunfoil ODI
against Sri Lanka in Kimberley on Friday.
The previous holder of the record was Morne Morkel who took 31 matches, with Tsotsobe’s 27 matches also making him the eighth quickest in the world.
“I have been working really hard on my bowling during my
rehabilitation after my side-strain and I am really happy that my hard work is
producing good performances on the field, said an excited Tsotsobe.
“I must say that this record came as a surprise to me, i have just been focusing on hitting the correct lengths and running in with intensity and intent.”
Tsotsobe also has an impressive strike rate, which rates amongst the best in the world. He is also the joint leading wicket-taker with 9 wickets at an average of 17.00 in the current series against Sri Lanka, with Lasith Malinga the other leading wicket-taker, however he has a higher average of 18.77.
Proteas bowling coach, Allan Donald, is ecstatic with Tsotsobe’s performance so far this season: “The most impressive thing about him is how his skill and confidence have improved over the past years. It’s never easy to come back in after a long lay-off and he has made the transition superbly. He has been fantastic for us in the limited overs format, especially with his clever variations under pressure.
“He has stepped into the new-ball role perfectly, and that says a lot about his ability and skills. He is a valuable asset in our Test outfit and he adds and exciting element to our formidable attack which also includes Morne Morkel, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn and Marchant de Lange.”
