Chris Morris made a stunning one-day debut in the match against Pakistan
Just when it seemed safe to assume that South Africa's cricketers would spend most of the Champions Trophy tucked safely away in the zone occupied by the "underdogs" they have once again been promoted to join the favourites – on the back of a single performance against a poor Pakistan side.
Today's match against the West Indies in the Welsh capital presents, in many ways, an inverse challenge to that posed by Pakistan on Monday. The Pakistan bowling attack ranks among the best in the tournament, but their batting was abject. The men from the Caribbean have just one star bowler, but a batting line-up that could club a bull elephant to death.
"Chris Gayle is the most obvious danger, but Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard are experienced match-winners and there is always Darren Sammy down the order," says Faf du Plessis.
"Gayle is a machine, and I mean that as a compliment! English conditions always give you a chance to remove top order batsmen early, and he'll be cautious at the start. But if he's there in the middle overs against the spinners then any team has reason to fear," says Du Plessis.
Casual and even some committed viewers have been battling to comprehend the cautious starts made by the top orders of every team in the tournament, but that is unlikely to change.
"It's been overcast for most matches, there is moisture around and some green in the pitch at the start. Against two new balls, batting has been more like Test cricket than one-day cricket," explains Du Plessis.
"The last thing you want is to be 80-4 or 100-5 with half your overs left. The first 15 or 20 overs are about damage limitation. You can catch up if you have wickets in hand."
When Proteas coach Gary Kirsten took over two years ago he insisted that all the middle order batsmen should be flexible about their place in the line-up.
Du Plessis sees the benefit of that now: "I would have liked to bat at number four but there was a problem with that – AB de Villiers is the best in the world and he bats at number four! I batted at five or six, even seven, and became used to the expectation that I needed to make a play pretty early and take some risks.
"Now, at number three, I have to be tight and play risk-free cricket for a long time. I need to be prepared to bat through the innings … if Hashim [Amla] isn't doing that. I'm loving the change and the challenge."
Snarling fast bowler
The Proteas' bowling against Pakistan could not have provided a starker contrast to the uninspired, plan B-less performance against India in the opening match when they conceded a total of 331-7. Yet there was only one change of personnel – Lions seamer Chris Morris replacing the injured Morné Morkel. It was his one-day international debut yet he looked, and behaved, like a snarling fast bowler in his international prime.
"He has that 'in your face' attitude that characterises the best South African fast bowlers. They must make batsmen 'feel' their presence; their aggression. I had to remind myself it was his debut. Amazing. His arrival in the squad freshened everyone up and renewed our energy. He's a really good man to have around," says Du Plessis.
"Allan Donald was the archetypal guy to do that. We can't just be the 'good guys' who get on with bowling and let the opposition bat."
Morris was the first to point out after his debut that Dale Steyn has continued in that tradition of hostility on the field.
"He was unbelievable as 12th man. He came on at every opportunity and gave me a pat on the back, encouraging all the time. At one point he couldn't help giving the batsmen a bit of grief. He was missing that as much as playing! But that's his character on the field, very special," said Morris afterwards.
Mentally stronger
South Africa have a maximum of three games left in the tournament. All of them are knockouts. If they beat the West Indies they play a semifinal and, possibly, the final. Matches of such intensity do not come around very often.
"We have discussed the approach. These games are rarely won by quick hundreds or flashes of brilliance. They are more often won by teams which are mentally stronger, for longer, than their opposition. Targets of 230 feel like 260 when you are chasing, and when you are setting a target it is better to aim for a controlled 240 and, with wickets in hand, you might end up with 20 more than that," Du Plessis says.
"The teams that win from here are those that stick to their game plans and avoid the temptation to do something special, too soon. You can lose a game much sooner than you can win it. We need to be strong but disciplined."
If South Africa beat the West Indies they are likely to play in the first semifinal against England or New Zealand at the Oval on Wednesday. But that is a long way off.
Du Plessis mentioned "one bowler" in the West Indian ranks. Sunil Narine is the greatest bamboozler in world cricket and capable of winning a match against any team. Look out for Du Plessis and co playing cautiously against him.