In what team management will surely consider a good omen, Marco Jansen provided a compelling glimpse of why he's been picked as the Proteas' designated all-rounder for the upcoming World Cup.The beanpole 23-year-old was the standout performer as South Africa completed a quite remarkable turnaround in the ODI series against Australia, clinching a 3-2 overall victory via a comprehensive 122-run triumph in Sunday's decider at the Wanderers.Recovering from a 0-2 deficit will put them in a nice frame of mind for the showpiece in India.
Jansen had for much of the past week shown his latent ability with the bat, chipping in with useful scores at No 7, pertinently a 16-ball 32 on a slow Potchefstroom surface that Aiden Markram had hailed as crucial in the Proteas win.However, the Bullring saw him blossom as he brilliantly capitalised on a revival by the middle order, smashing 47 off just 23 deliveries as the Aussie attack once again wilted in the latter stages.Yet the most encouraging development is the fact that he finally clicked with the ball, memorably claiming the scalps of the first five visiting batters on his way to career-best figures of 5/39."Umkile uMarnus Labuschagne xa ndi gqibo kutsho kuwe Gatyeni" ??Marco Jansen takes his first five-wicket haul for South Africa ????
Stream the #SAvAUS 5th Betway ODI live: https://t.co/ACEUH7ehZ3 pic.twitter.com/o8x3vVjsqTThere had been trepidation when Jansen employed a shorter length from the outset - especially since it didn't bring him much success in the first four encounters - but he channelled it far more effectively.SCORECARD | Proteas v Australia, 5th ODIIt had started with a double wicket maiden in his first over, where he first cramped a slashing David Warner for room