Online Reporter
SOUTH Africa’s hard-working and conscientious Director of Cricket, Enoch Nkwe, has promised that ‘lessons will be learned’ from the Proteas’ T20 World Cup campaign which ended with a nine-wicket drubbing by New Zealand in the semifinals after a perfect 7-0 run the rough the group and Super Eight stage.
It is not the first time Nkwe has promised an ‘inquiry’ into a failed campaign at a global event.
When South Africa lost to the Netherlands in Adelaide in the 2022 edition Nkwe promised a full investigation.
After a prolonged delay, no results were ever made public. If there were no answers from that disaster, it’s unlikely there will be any after this one.
Having stumbled embarrassingly in the final stages of the first match against Afghanistan before scrambling to a dramatic victory via two Super Overs – with Tristan Stubbs hitting the final ball of the first one for six to keep them alive – the team played increasingly clinical and powerful cricket.
They thrashed New Zealand by seven wickets with 17 balls to spare and drubbed India by 76 runs.
Then they had a bad day. It was due. It happens. The nature of the mauling by the Black Caps in the semifinal wasn’t pleasant but, when the ball starts rolling downhill on a flat pitch in these contests, it gains speed quickly. As New Zealand discovered to everyone’s embarrassment in the final with India romping to a 96-run win to become the first team to defend the title and win it for the third time.
Mistakes were made, but not a choke
The Proteas were fearless in the group stages, counter-attacking in thrilling style from 20-3 against India. They rotated the squad giving everyone except Jason Smith more than one game. They made smart decisions under pressure and made good use of their bowling options.
Mistakes were made in the knockout match but only the harshest (and probably emotional) critics would suggest they transpired as a result of a ‘freeze’ on the big occasion.
It certainly wasn’t a ‘choke’ as has undoubtedly beset South Africa teams in the past.
Left-handers Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton fell in successive deliveries to part-time offspinner Cole McConchie in just the second over, but they did so by attacking.
If they had patted six deliveries to cover they would have been lambasted for lacking conviction. Sometimes – often in this format, actually – you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t.
Only the players themselves will know if they blinked at a critical moment. But to suggest, for example, that Marco Jansen and Corbin Bosch “bowled too short” is to blindly ignore the success they enjoyed during the tournament, and in previous T20 Internationals, by using the bouncer.
Digging around for a psychological silver bullet to solve the mystery of just three victories out of 15 ICC knockout matches dating back to 1992 has been tried before.- Supersport
Mathew Masinge