Imran Tahir can reflect, with a deep sense of relief, that Kingsmead is a long way from the Adelaide Oval.
Six weeks ago, the leg-spinner suffered a traumatic experience when he was clobbered for 260 runs in 37 overs without taking a wicket in the second Test between the Proteas and Australia.
Thanks to Faf du Plessis’s heroics, South Africa drew the Test, but it was the end of the tour for Tahir – and many believe it signalled the end of his international career.
Yesterday, the Pakistan-born spinner found himself in altogether more congenial surroundings as he picked up his 14th five-wicket haul in first-class franchise cricket to give the Lions a huge advantage in their Sunfoil Series match against the Dolphins.
Figures of 22.1-8-42-5 compare very nicely with his first-innings analysis of 23-0-180-0 in Adelaide, and the 33 year old had a big smile on his face as he led his team off the field after the Dolphins had been dismissed for a paltry 155 in their first innings, a deficit of 93.
By the end of the second day’s play, the Lions had extended this to 244 when an exuberant Quinton de Kock (65 in 61 balls) led his team to 151-3 in their second dig, exploiting the absence of the indisposed Kyle Abbott, and feasting on some undisciplined bowling. Paceman Craig Alexander was the biggest culprit, going for 51 in eight overs.
Reflecting on his Adelaide experience, Tahir said with a wry smile that he hadn’t expected such a flat pitch.
“But I’m not making excuses. I have to take that performance on the chin. Obviously I wish that I hadn’t gone for so many runs and that I’d controlled the situation better. I began better in their second innings, but then I bowled a no-ball when I thought I’d picked up a wicket and that was really disappointing.”
He said he had been working very hard since his return to correct his tendency to bowl no-balls, and he was pleased with recent results.
He is also working on reducing his runs-per-over rate, trying to get it down to three.
Yesterday, after taking the key wicket of Imraan Khan the previous evening, he bowled from the uMngeni End for most of the morning, adding the wicket of Khaya Zondo with a classic leg-spinner’s delivery, pitching on a length and taking the outside edge of the bat to present the wicketkeeper with a catch.
Obdurate nightwatchman Mthokozisi Shezi – who batted for 90 balls, considerably longer than the top-order batsmen – fell victim to the googly before Tahir cleaned up the tail from the other end.
“I’m taking every ball, every game, very seriously because I want so badly to play for South Africa again,” Tahir said as he thanked his team-mates and coaches Geoffrey Toyana and Gordon Parsons for helping in his rehabilitation.
Talking of rehabilitation, the Dolphins have a fair amount of their own to do after a limp batting display and some loose bowling.
Anything less than a remarkable recovery over the next two days will see the Lions complete the double over the home team after their 53-run win at the start of the season.