The South African captain, Aiden Markram was glad to have seen his team defeat a tough course in the semifinals to reach the final T20 World Cup for the first time even as he admitted not wanting another match on this field.
South African fast bowlers took full advantage of the deck at the Brian Lara Academy stadium that had a lot of movement off the seam to bowl Afghanistan out for just 56 runs.
“You know what; if we look back at this wicket probably it’s one where we will be quite happy not to play again especially.”, Markram said after SA’s nine-wicket win against Afghanistan during his post-match press meet which is reported by T20safarri.
According to PTI, Markram was pleased with South Africa’s performance on a difficult track.
“The wickets that we’ve got through this competition have actually been very difficult. You can’t just say a wicket is bad because it can’t always be a batsman’s game.
“Having said that, still taking the positives we can. Wickets are tough. That’s why I think finding ways of winning it is probably most important thing.”
Next up for South Africa is either England or India in Barbados
“We move around from venue to venue throughout our careers where conditions change quite drastically so, its about adjusting and playing according to wickets and whatever comes your way during their encounter.”
“We’ll try and find ways of always taking wickets with ball and from a batting point of view try get to score that defends itself. It’s same wicket both sides need to play on,” he added.
However, before leaving now Markram wants some moments for his World Cup final experience.
“What we’re kind of realizing now like it must be an awesome feeling obviously.” This side has been together as white-ball group for quite some time now and it nice for us round me into one finals.
“We feel and believe that we can compete with the best in the world and we can win trophies. We can now actually have that opportunity.”
Captain of South Africa said winning close games at both Super Eights as well as group stages boosted their confidence.
“You gain belief from winning tight matches and maybe squeezing out those victories where you thought you were not going to win them too.”
“It does a lot for your changing room vibe. So, we’ll take a little bit of confidence from that and see if we can put it to any use in the final”, he said.
In some ways, South Africa had made up for all its previous blunders on the international stage, but Markram denied this was mentioned anywhere within his present team’s dressing room.
“I haven’t spoken about it honestly. I think it’s more a personal or individual motivation when you make it to a final; just making your way to be able to put your hands on the trophy.”
Thus, as you look at tonight and then reflect back, we couldn’t get over the line in that semi- final (in the 50-over World Cup against Australia) few things went our way. This resulted to us winning the game and going through to the finals.
The 29-year-old lauded the South African bowlers for dismissing Afghanistan for a record low 56 runs which turned this semifinal into a one-sided game.
“The bowlers, throughout this comp have been outstanding. They saved the batters on several occasions. So, lots of appreciation has been towards them.
Ten years ago Markram led South Africa to victory at the under-19 World Cup but he wasn’t expecting anything like that to work for him again now.
“It’s really ancient; my memory is very bad too, but it gives you a little bit of confidence and belief knowing you have done it on a certain level before. There are similar pressures that you have to deal with being in a final,” he add.
Markram also acknowledged Afghanistan’s commendable performance in this contest.
“That’s quite interesting though they are some of the best in the world right now as well so they’re really on track I think they’ve really had an influence on so many people in our country if not more than that I’ve seen some pictures that inspire us as well just trying to make those differences to people back home I’m sure it won’t be last time knockout cricket will happen among them,” He concluded.
