The Proteas must perform better with bat in hand if they want to level the three-match T20I series against India on Sunday, according to Temba Bavuma.
Heading into the final match of the series, South Africa trail 1-0 after India won the second match by seven wickets Wednesday, with last Sunday’s first encounter having rained out.
Bavuma, who fell one run short of a half-century on his T20 International debut, believes South Africa’s batsmen didn’t give their bowlers much to bowl at by posting only 149/5 in their 20 overs.
He says: “It’s very hard to play perfect 20 overs of cricket.
“Myself and [captain] Quinton [de Kock] were still able to build a partnership and put us in a good position [with a 57-run second-wicket partnership].
“But I’d like to think we lost the game in our batting.
“If we could keep up the intensity there, we wouldn’t have ended with a score of 150.”
PRESSURE: Captain Quinton de Kock. Picture: BackpagePix.
Bavuma believes they can beat India to square the series, saying: “They are a formidable team, but not unbeatable.
“There will always be moments in the game where we can win and for us it’s more about being aware of those moments and making sure we’re in the right mental space to win those moments.”
Bavuma would have liked nothing more than to mark his debut with a 50, but fell one run short of the milestone after going for a big shot off a slower ball.
The Langa-born star adds of his knock: “It was a pleasing effort - it’s always nice to contribute.
DEVASTATING FORM: Virat Kohli. Picture: Altaf Qadri/AP.
“It didn’t do much to the result of the game, but it was a pleasing knock.
“I don’t see myself as a selfish person - I try and put the team ahead of personal ambitions.
“It is always about the team - if you look at the way I went out in the end, I’d like to think that shows I like to put the team first.
“Putting the team first will always serve you well.”
India ace Virat Kohli is the man the Proteas will target on Sunday, as his unbeaten 72 runs not only earned him the Man of the Match award, but the ominous form spells big danger for the South Africans heading into the decider.