Aiden Markram and the Proteas have moved one step closer to the semi-finals after a "brutal" nine-wicket win over the Windies. Photo: AFP
Image: AFP
Much more of this and South Africans may start to believe that the Proteas can go on to win a first-ever ICC Men's T20 World Cup.
Aiden Markram’s men weren’t even at their clinical best — dropping four catches in the field — but yet still thrashed the only other previously unbeaten team, West Indies, in the competition by nine wickets with 23 balls to spare in Ahmedabad on Thursday.
The victory over India was monumental, but this was brutal, and in the process cemented the Proteas’ place at the summit of Group 1, within touching distance of another semi-final berth. Having fallen, however, at the final hurdle two years ago in Barbados, Markram — who struck a match-winning 82 not out — does not want to look too far ahead.
“The guys have a lot of pride and are really on a mission to try and achieve something,” Markram said, in the post-match briefing.
“It is seriously cutthroat. It's a high level of cricket, obviously, the intensity and the amount of energy that drains you each game is quite high. You need to stay on your toes ...
“The boys are, every game, every meeting we have, they're fully locked in. We've been on good and bad sides at World Cups and it's definitely not something this group would take for granted. For the time being, the guys have been tracking really well.”
There is great deal of familiarity between the two sides, which showed when West Indies captain Shai Hope bashed 17 runs from his Pretoria Capitals skipper Keshav Maharaj’s first over of the innings. That was as good as it got for the top-order until a world-record T20I eighth-wicket partnership of 89 between Romario Shepherd and Jason Holder pushed the Windies up to a respectable total.
Everything in between and beyond belonged to the Proteas. Having won the toss and inserted the big-hitting West Indians, Lungi Ngidi (3/30), Kagiso Rabada (2/22) and Corbin Bosch (2/31) combined perfectly on a tacky Ahmedabad surface to reduce the Windies to 83/7 before the all-rounders’ intervention.
“You can get frustrated when you have a team, I don't know what it was, seven down or something, but you have to try to paint the bigger picture and see the reasons behind it: is it poor bowling, is it good batting or has the wicket become really good?” Markram said.
“I thought they played really well. They are, obviously, two massive humans. Their mis-hits go for six and makes it tougher for you and keeps you challenged and locked in as a bowling group ... Credit to the bowlers to be able to get it right the way that they did.”
From thereon the Proteas took control with the bat. Markram cut, flicked, and drove with purpose to race to his third half-century of the competition in just 27 balls.
Quinton de Kock (47 off 24 balls, 4x4, 4x6) was content with his spectator role to Markram until he too broke free with 38 runs coming off his next 11 deliveries before he chipped Roston Chase to long-on.
The first wicket had yielded 95 runs, which not only ate a chunk out of the target, but also rubber-stamped the pair’s standing as the competition’s most prolific opening partnership. And then Ryan Rickelton came in and played with purpose, joining his captain Markram for a stylish, undefeated 45 off just 28 balls as the Proteas romped home.
“Chasing 180 basically, obviously the powerplay was a big thing for us. So, a nice partnership with Quinny and then we pretty much scored runs really well throughout the powerplay,” Markram said.
“I just try and get into rhythm as quickly as possible. Whether I'm captain or not, opening is a responsibility. I have a good relationship with Quinny, and Ricks has really come in and made that No 3 his own.
“We try to make sure the team gets off to a good start especially on wickets like this and hope to continue this.”
Next up for Markram and Co are Zimbabwe on Sunday. By then, the Proteas will know what is required to progress to the last four of the tournament.
West Indies 176/8
Shepherd 52, Holder 49, Ngidi 3/30, Rabada 2/22, Bosch 2/31
South Africa 177 /1
Markram 82*, de Kock 47, Rickelton 45*
South Africa won by nine wickets