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South Africa were brought “back to earth” by their defeat against Pakistan at the T20 World Cup but will use it as a wake-up call ahead of their must-win game against the Netherlands, captain Temba Bavuma said.
The Proteas could have sealed a semi-final with a win at the Sydney Cricket Ground, but instead slumped to a 33-run loss in the rain-shortened Super 12 match.
Second in Group 2 and a point behind India, Bavuma’s side now need to beat the Netherlands in Adelaide on Sunday to make sure they go through.
Bavuma said “the wheels came off for South Africa when Pakistan went on 185 for nine after being reduced to 43 for four early on.
“A team like Pakistan, as you know, is very dangerous when you give them any type of momentum,” he said.
“I don’t think it’s a big concern. Yes, there are talking points for us, areas we can learn from.
“Maybe this is a performance we needed to… maybe bring us back down to earth.”
Bavuma bemoaned his team’s poor fielding and refused to blame the weather as a string of catches went down on the turf in the drizzly final overs of the first innings.
“Until this game, our fielding was very good. We fielded at night,” he said.
“We fielded during the day, in wet conditions.
“Maybe the intensity has dropped a bit for the guys. Individually the guys know, but it’s certainly not the standard of fielding we pride ourselves on.”
The loss of experienced middle-order batsman David Miller to return spasms did not help South Africa’s cause after rain and the Duckworth-Lewis method left them an unlikely victory target.
Bavuma said Miller’s bank bank was precautionary, however, and expected him to return to the Netherlands.
The Proteas could have sealed a semi-final with a win at the Sydney Cricket Ground, but instead slumped to a 33-run loss in the rain-shortened Super 12 match.
Second in Group 2 and a point behind India, Bavuma’s side now need to beat the Netherlands in Adelaide on Sunday to make sure they go through.
Bavuma said “the wheels came off for South Africa when Pakistan went on 185 for nine after being reduced to 43 for four early on.
“A team like Pakistan, as you know, is very dangerous when you give them any type of momentum,” he said.
“I don’t think it’s a big concern. Yes, there are talking points for us, areas we can learn from.
“Maybe this is a performance we needed to… maybe bring us back down to earth.”
Bavuma bemoaned his team’s poor fielding and refused to blame the weather as a string of catches went down on the turf in the drizzly final overs of the first innings.
“Until this game, our fielding was very good. We fielded at night,” he said.
“We fielded during the day, in wet conditions.
“Maybe the intensity has dropped a bit for the guys. Individually the guys know, but it’s certainly not the standard of fielding we pride ourselves on.”
The loss of experienced middle-order batsman David Miller to return spasms did not help South Africa’s cause after rain and the Duckworth-Lewis method left them an unlikely victory target.
Bavuma said Miller’s bank bank was precautionary, however, and expected him to return to the Netherlands.
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