Proteas all-rounder Wiaan Mulder was elated to have made a significant impact in the team's success against Afghanistan on Friday, following his recovery from a broken middle finger.
Mulder, however, was more effective with the ball this time around than with the bat. Arguably, he only got to face the tail end of the innings because the Proteas' top order delivered stellar performances across the board, led by Ryan Rickelton’s maiden ODI century.
Mulder finished unbeaten on 12 and bowled an economically effective spell of 2/36 from nine overs.
“I wouldn’t say I’ve added a lot to my game — just a lot of opportunity to power-hit, I guess. That’s been my role in the SA20, so I just tried to keep it simple and generate as much power as I can. I’ve spent a bit of time with Klaasen to try and work out my own way of hitting.
"I think I’ve figured it out a bit better—what suits me—but I’ve got a lot to improve on. Hopefully, I can keep getting better,” Mulder said.
Mulder isn’t the only player using the ICC Champions Trophy as a platform to showcase his talent. Fast bowler Lungi Ngidi also delivered a solid spell, taking 2/56 from eight overs, after recently recovering from a groin injury.
With the likes of Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen, and Mulder in form with the ball, the Proteas look like a polished unit. Meanwhile, the batting lineup has shown its ability to dismantle opposition attacks.
Mulder believes the energy and atmosphere in the Proteas' camp bode well for a potential spot in the final and, hopefully, another ICC Champions Trophy victory.
“The fact that we have won it before doesn’t really affect us—or this team, in particular. This team has come close a couple of times, so we just want to play our best cricket. I think the culture and environment of the team are more focused on what we can do now, rather than dwelling on the past or forming preconceived ideas about what’s coming.
"We’d rather focus on what the conditions require us to do. I think that’s why we’ve been able to perform well recently,” Mulder explained.
The conditions in Karachi on Friday surprised many, including Mulder, as pace bowlers were initially expected to struggle due to the lack of bounce and movement.
Mulder noted that bowlers had to maintain a tight line on top of the stumps to avoid getting punished. However, Friday’s conditions were unexpected.
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“It’s not something we anticipated, to be honest. When we were batting, the message was that the ball was skidding on, and there was quite a lot of pace in the pitch. So I think it took us all by surprise.
"In the end, it played more like South African conditions—not as much spin but more pace and bounce. There was still a bit of Karachi in there, with the ball staying low every now and then,” Mulder said.
Mulder and the rest of the Proteas squad will look to carry this momentum into their next match on Tuesday against their fiercest rival, Australia.
The "Thunder from Down Under" thrashed England by five wickets on Sunday at Gaddafi Stadium, making a 350-plus run chase look easy.
The match will be played in Rawalpindi.