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South Africa won’t dwell on T20 World Cup exit as next assignment only days away

NI

Nick Said

Published 3 months ago

Given their form going into Wednesday's T20 World Cup semi-final, South Africa expected ⁠to compete better against New Zealand but are philosophical about their nine-wicket defeat in a format where ‌momentum can swing quickly.

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/south-africa/tUhlKzIm/"]South Africa[/a] had won all seven of their games ‌going into the last-four clash, with five of those ‌wins coming in Ahmedabad, but stumbled when faced with a ‌different set of conditions in Kolkata, where the ball did ‌not come onto the bat as smoothly.[/p][p]They set [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/new-zealand/G6PWlrQB/"]New Zealand[/a] a below-par 170 to win and their opponents easily chased it ‌down with 43 deliveries remaining on the ⁠back of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/allen-finn/WUFfwo8t/"]Finn Allen[/a]’s unbeaten ‌33-ball 100.[/p][p]It marked yet another World Cup failure for the South ​Africans, who are still seeking a first title, but captain Aiden Markram said there was no ​other option but to look ahead to the next tournament.[/p][embed guid="909ea53f-6a43-445c-9323-800de7be11a7" url="https://x.com/ProteasMenCSA/status/2029233262837612899?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]"We'll reflect as a group,"[/b] Markram said. "[b]But I’m very proud ⁠of these guys. They ​played some really good cricket throughout this competition and it was just an unfortunate evening, really.[/b][/p][p][b]"The halfway point, we really felt like we had a sniff. But then, as it ‌goes in T20 cricket, their powerplay got off to a flyer, and you can't protect every boundary. They got away, and then from there it was really hard to pull it back.[/b][/p][p][b]"All you do is you break down the game and try to find the areas that could have been better. And you get back on the horse and you try and improve as a group and ‌as individuals. And hopefully that puts you in good ​stead for the future."[/b][/p][embed guid="f51286aa-a3ba-4f70-9d59-35d69e5c7cb2" url="https://x.com/ProteasMenCSA/status/2029234999656919471?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]South Africa’s next assignment is a ‌five-match T20 series in New Zealand starting on March 15, though only three of the World Cup squad, spinners [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/maharaj-keshav/lOlAEUyc/"]Keshav Maharaj[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/linde-george/phLn6nGh/"]George Linde[/a], and all-rounder [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/smith-jason/jVLr7S0n/"]Jason Smith[/a], will take part.[/p][p]New Zealand will meet the winner ⁠of Thursday's second semi ⁠between co-hosts [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/india/fcOzl2uI/"]India[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/england/UJC5mtAU/"]‌England[/a] in the final on Sunday.[/p]

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