“Little Bit Tacky Under Lights”- Ryan Rickleton Explains the Struggle of Chasing in the Champions Trophy

Young South African batsman Ryan Rickleton has scored his first-ever century in his debut outing at the Champions Trophy, thus securing for South Africa a total of 315 runs. South Africa thrashed Afghanistan for a paltry 208 runs in 43.3 overs at Karachi Stadium. Under the lights, Kagiso Rabada, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, and Marco Jansen dominated the proceedings, and the scorers found it difficult in the second innings without dew in both these regions.

Afghanistan did not suffer alone in this chase, with only one of three teams managing to chase targets successfully in the Champions Trophy, India particularly finding it difficult in the end when they successfully chased targets.

“I heard all about the wacker clay”- Ryan Rickleton

Ryan Rickleton, the young south-paw batter from South Africa, elaborated that the pitch in Karachi was slightly tacky under the lights. The set batsman felt that high variable bounce and increased spin in the second innings had embarrassed the batters in the chase. Rickleton went on to say that he had spoken to the New Zealanders before the match, who told him of the differing nature of the pitches this season.

“I heard all about the wacker clay or something like that—it looked a lot harder and drier. It wasn’t the same wicket as the one we had the practice game on, so it was a bit different for us. But throughout the game, I thought the wicket was quite quick. As Matt was getting it through, and obviously we have some quick bowlers in our team—KG and Marco could really push it through, even Wiaan was getting it through nicely too” Ryan Rickleton said.

“So, I think the wicket had pace in it, no doubt about it, but I think the variability in the bounce is what made it quite challenging for both teams. I think we just had the extra yard, the extra height to extract maybe a little bit more out of it,” Ryan Rickleton said.

“Having chatted to the New Zealanders yesterday about the wickets, they said that when the dew didn’t set in, it actually got a little bit tacky under lights. Probably the same today, it spun a little bit more as well. And that’s, I guess, why the decision to bat first was made,” he added.