Imran Tahir ended the first Twenty20 International against Zimbabwe with a five-wicket haul, but it was telling of his ambition that he still wished he “could have got the hat-trick”.
Tahir dismissed Hamilton Masakadza (1) and Tarisai Musakanda (0) dismissed in consecutive deliveries at the beginning of the fourth over, but there was to be no hat-trick, with Brendan Taylor and Sean Williams steadying things thereafter.
However, Tahir still ended with 5/23 in four overs – his career-best figures in T20Is – and helped restrict Zimbabwe to 126 in 17.2 overs after South Africa had posted 160/6. As good a performance as it was, though, Tahir said he was just happy to contribute.
“I wish I could have got the hat-trick,” he said on Tuesday, 9 October. “(But) I am really pleased. I don’t take things for granted. It came out the way I wanted it to. Till I am doing well for the team, I am happy.”
Faf du Plessis, the South Africa captain, said they were delighted with Tahir’s form, but added the management wanted him to replicate the form in one-day internationals as well.
“He’s got a knack for taking wickets,” said du Plessis. “He sees the value of taking wickets upfront, like today when he got three in the first six. We want him to do the same in ODIs as well.”
