Major test awaits Markram’s men in Antigua

It would be very much in keeping with South Africa’s anguished World Cup history if this year’s challenge were to end with just one defeat — and that even before the semifinals, where their heartbreak usually occurs. 

But that is the scenario facing Aiden Markram’s men in Antigua, where a loss to the West Indies in the final Super Eight match (Monday 2.30am SA time), would most likely see them exit the tournament. Having gone unbeaten in six matches so far, half of those being decided in the final over, all that fighting spirit and good fortune could count for nought. 

South Africa’s Super Eight pool at the tournament has come down to the net run rate (NRR), and while they sit atop it following two wins against the US and England, the margins of those victories mean defeat to the co-hosts could see them drop to third. 

West Indies smashed the US in Barbados yesterday morning, pushing their NRR to 1.814, far superior to SA’s, whose NRR of 0.625 gives them a negligible advantage over the English. The defending champions face the US in Barbados this afternoon, where any sort of win — barring a super over — will push them above the Proteas. 

For all the resilience SA have shown throughout the tournament, including surviving the minefield that was the New York surface, it will be their own negligence in defending totals against the US and England that could yet prove costly.

In both matches the Proteas had created a significant advantage with disciplined and smart bowling, making substantial margins of victories — certainly against the US — look probable. But then costly errors in strategy and execution saw those matches go down to the final over. 

Against the US, they conceded 64 runs from the 15th to the 18th overs, and against England it was 52 in three overs, as the plan to use yorkers went terribly awry. Those two periods will hang heavy on them if their tournament does end tomorrow. 

South Africa have won just two of the last seven T20 Internationals against the West Indies, with three of those coming in a series that preceded the World Cup. Those matches in Jamaica were dominated by the West Indies’ spinners Roston Chase, Akeal Hosein and Gudakesh Motie, who have continued their good form throughout the tournament. “They have bowled exceptionally well, they are a dominant force,” said SA’s inform left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj.

The Proteas will undoubtedly draw on the experience of Quinton de Kock, David Miller and Tabraiz Shamsi, who have played in the Caribbean Premier League, for a better understanding about what to expect in night matches at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.

I think we are getting closer to that really complete game of cricket, we’re not quite there, but we are definitely on the right track

—  Aiden Markram

De Kock’s intimate knowledge of conditions in St Lucia, particularly how the pitch played during the day and the effect of the wind, was crucial in SA’s narrow triumph over England on Friday night. 

Given the stakes, the Proteas will need that more rounded performance they’ve been after throughout the tournament to secure a semifinal spot in front of what will be a partisan and expectant home crowd. The bowlers dominated the group phase, while the batters played a more prominent role in the Super Eights on surfaces that were more true. 

“I think we are getting closer to that really complete game of cricket. We’re not quite there, but we are definitely on the right track,” said Markram.

“We trust in each guy, that each day they will put in a good performance to get us to a big target or to chase down a target. We won’t look too deeply into it, we will just trust the guys and trust in their ability to express themselves.”