Despite losing their third group-stage match of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, South Africa can take heart from their incremental improvements over the last week, according to all-rounder Chris Morris.
After conceding more than 300 runs in their first two matches, South Africa’s attack made a fist of their attempt to defend 227 and India’s line-up had to work until the 48th over to reach the target.
Morris put that down to improved energy and presence in the field, an area in which South Africa’s standards are usually high.
“A non-negotiable for us would probably be body language. I think our body language let us down in the first few games but today, we were quite good and we stayed in the fight,” Morris said.
South Africa’s attack was without Dale Steyn, who has been ruled out of the tournament with a shoulder injury and will return home in the next few days, and Lungi Ngidi, who is recovering from a hamstring strain.
Another maiden over from Chris Morris!
That’s his third of the innings, this is a spirited & disciplined bowling display. Morris keeps putting in the hard work for the Proteas, looking for that important breakthrough. #ProteaFire🔥 #CWC19 #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/QjkCmmgdzL
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) June 5, 2019
They went into this match with three seamers, Kagiso Rabada, Andile Phehlukwayo and Morris and two spinners, Imran Tahir and Tabraiz Shamsi and though they only claimed four Indian wickets, created several more opportunities upfront.
“We saw what happened with the new ball, there was a bit of extra bounce. When Faf (du Plessis) got out, he said it was like acting the first hour of a Test match so if we hit hard Test match lengths, there was going to be something for us. That’s all we had to do,” Morris explained.
“We created our chances. If those three had gone to hand in the first six overs today, all of a sudden India could have been 14/3 and staring down the barrel at a steaming in Kagiso Rabada.”
While that didn’t happen, Morris was pleased with the way the attack restricted India’s centurion Rohit Sharma to a strike rate of 84.72.
OUT: Morris was pleased with the way the attack restricted India’s centurion Rohit Sharma. Photo: Paul Childs/Reuters.
He added: “When last have you seen Rohit Sharma get 100 off 128 balls?” Morris asked. “He is usually a free-flowing batsman. We weren’t far away.”
Though they are getting closer, South Africa are still not where they want to be in the tournament and want to change that as quickly as possible.
They have set themselves the target of winning their next six league matches in order to qualify for the knockouts and while Morris knows it will not be easy, he believes the team is up for the task.
South Africa finish their innings on 227/9 - Chris Morris top scoring with 42.
Yuzvendra Chahal, on World Cup debut, took 4/51 for #TeamIndia! #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/aAq3gCIkjs
— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) June 5, 2019
“We have to win every game. The team is very disappointed and a little bit angry but we will sort that out in our heads tonight. We just have to win the next six and crack on.”
He also had a message for South African fans who may be feeling despondent about the way their team has started in this competition.
“To the fans, please stay with us,” Morris said. “Stranger things have happened before in sport. Just back us as much as you can and we will try and perform for you.”
African News Agency