MR. EFFICIENT

IMRAN TAHIR

The South Africa cricket team have always been full of firepower when it comes to fast bowling, but it was their lack of a quality spinner that has made them look inadequate on the biggest stage. Finally, in Imran Tahir, South Africa seems to have found the missing piece of the jigsaw puzzle. Already potent with the best pace attack in the world, South Africa showed in this World Cup that they can turn games on its head even with spin bowling. On an SCG deck yesterday, the Pakistan-born leg-spinner claimed four scalps as the Proteas tamed the vaunted Sri Lankan batting.  His feat was largely responsible for the Lankans' capitulation and the first-ever knock-out win in the World Cup for the Proteas. The 35-year-old has 15 wickets in seven matches, at an average of 18.86 and an economy 
rate of 4.2.