Around 230-250 would have kept us in the game – Wade

Australia wicketkeeper Matthew Wade has said that a total in the range of 230 to 250 would have made a difference on what he felt was a deteriorating pitch in Port Elizabeth. After electing to bat, Australia lost their top half in only 15 overs. That they eventually recovered to post 167 was courtesy Wade’s fighting fifty and a more patient one from Mitchell Marsh. South Africa chased that total down fairly comfortably with 87 balls to spare.

“I don’t think any game that you lose for Australia is tougher than the next, they all hurt just as much,” Wade said. “Having said that, on that wicket, if we could have posted a reasonable total, anywhere around 230-250, I think we would have been right in the game. So I think it’s disappointing we didn’t get those runs on the board because I feel like the wicket was deteriorating and getting a touch slower as the game moved on.”

Wade’s 52 was studded with five fours and two sixes, but it was not with the bat alone that he showed his aggression. Wade had a series of exchanges with chinaman bowler Tabraiz Shamsi. The two verbally sparred for a lengthy period, before Wade decided to tuck the bowler in the elbow while running across for a single, prompting Faf du Plessis to approach the umpires who had to intervene to calm things down.

“It’s just competitive cricket. International cricket is hard work. We had a crack the other night and they came back at us today, so it’s fair,” Wade said. “I suppose it can get blown out …

continue reading in source www.espncricinfo.com