South Africa captain Aiden Markram stated he was “gutted” after his crew misplaced their first-ever T20 World Cup final by seven runs to India.
Having ended a run of seven semi-final losses – in each short-form codecs – with their victory over Afghanistan on Wednesday, the Proteas got here agonisingly shut to their maiden World Cup title.
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Heinrich Klaasen’s blistering 52 from 27 balls, with 5 sixes and two fours, put South Africa in place to win earlier than India’s ‘death’ bowlers turned the screw.
“Obviously gutted. It will take some time for us to reflect on this. We’ve had a great campaign but for the time being, this hurts. I am so proud of all my players and everyone involved in this team,” stated Markram.
“We bowled very well, the pitch didn’t give them much to work with. We thought it was a chaseable total. It was a great game of cricket, I’m chuffed with all my guys, it’s hard not to get over the line but I’ll always be proud of them,” he stated.
“We’ve seen that it’s not over until the last ball for a lot of our games. It changed quickly at the end there. But we were in a great position. We know we could’ve won the game,” he added.
Hunger for achievement
Markram stated he was proud that the starvation for achievement that his crew had proven all through their unbeaten run to the final had been evident till the very finish.
“One factor you possibly can assure from South African folks is that they’re aggressive, however they’re respectful. We delight ourselves on that. Hopefully shifting ahead we are able to study from this and use it.
“This will always be a proud day for us, regardless,” he stated.
South Africa’s solely main honour within the sport is the Champions Trophy title received in 1998 and Markram stated it was too quickly to replicate deeply on the positives of their 2024 T20 World Cup marketing campaign.
“To get to our first final, it’s something we can be proud of. Still, in our eyes, it’s not good enough. You’re not satisfied with making a final,” he stated.
“I think it’ll take a bit of time for us to reflect back on all the good things that we’ve done, but obviously for the time being, it’s just hurts a lot,” he stated.
‘Unique bond’
Markram had spoken earlier than the final of the distinctive bond inside the crew had been there was an “extreme hunger” for victory and he stated the defeat would take some recovering from.
“Its simply intestine wrenching – that’s actually what it’s. Each participant has been on a distinct particular person journey to get to this primary final.
“Ultimately you turn into actually tight as a bunch and also you need good issues to occur to this group as a result of they’re nice folks and if you get actually shut like that.
“The nature of how the sport went, clearly provides to the feelings and it’s a type of issues however we are able to channel it shifting ahead however I feel subsequent couple of days you let or not it’s, you let your self really feel the best way you need to really feel after which actually begin reflecting in a constructive method.
“Hopefully it’s one step nearer. It’s event cricket, it’s robust cricket, it’s not straightforward to win trophies and also you’ve received to take your hats off to a crew like India for lifting the trophy.
“Hopefully moving forward we can get that first win and it can be a snowball effect of quite a few to come,” he stated.
By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse
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