Kwena Maphaka has taken his time to get going, bur it took his first series against Australia to bring the fire out of the South African pace sensation.
While Australia won the first T20 with Tim David deploying the ‘all guns blazing’ mode and secured the 17-run win, the slightly listless Proteas found their voice through their youngster, a teenage tyro from Johannesburg in the first BKT Tyres T20 on Sunday night.
Maphaka (4-20) confronted the batting onslaught unleashed by the well-oiled Aussie batting unit, and shared his first wicket on his fourth ball to send Mitch Owen’s off stump cartwheeling. The Tassie batter was trying to make room to flick it over leg side, but Maphaka sent down a 144kph thunderbolt.
The night belonged to Tim David (83 off 56), but Maphaka bowled 11 deliveries at the giant ceding only 14 runs, the best return from all the South African bowlers. He ultimately had his man, caught in the deep in the penultimate over. But the youngster properly got on David’s nerves.
Teammate Ryan Rickelton said it was expected from the teen tyro, as per
“He’s quite a fiery character,” Rickelton told reporters after play.
“(But) he’s very relaxed, very quiet in the change room.
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“He had a bit of a go at Tim (David) there, but he’s very competitive. He backs his ability which is great. It’s cool to see a young guy stand up to Australia in their backyard. It’s very promising for South African cricket.
“He’s quite a relaxed guy in the change room but when he crosses that line, he’s got a bit of white-line fever, which is quite exciting for us.”
At 17, Maphaka was player of the tournament at the 2024 Under-19 World Cup despite being only 17 years old, and took 21 wickets at an average of 9.71 at that Cup. In his maiden ODI appearance, against Pakistan in December, he hit the 151kph mark and within a fortnight became the youngest Test debutant, at 18 years and 270 days for the WTC champions.
Against Australia at the Marrara Stadium, the youngster showed tremendous outfielding with two sharp catches in the Powerplay, helping senior quick Kagiso Rabada to two wickets. George Linde had just dropped Travis Head, but offered another one to short third next ball, where Maphaka sprinted quickly to latch onto a toughie. Later, Mitch Marsh’s attempted swing to the leg side hung in the Darwin night sky for six seconds before Maphaka safely pouched it, as per cricket.com.au.
