MyPE

Community Business Directory, Event Listings, News and Views from Gqeberha, Nelson Mandela Bay

Proteas Set For Crucial India Clash

By

PERTH: Anrich Nortje is pleased with the way the Proteas have so far performed at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup as he looks forward to a crucial match three against India in Perth on Sunday.

South Africa recovered from a disappointing no result in the opening game against Zimbabwe where the Hobart rain denied them what looked to be a certain win to thump Bangladesh by a record 104 runs in match two in Sydney.

Those two results have left them in second place on the Group 2 table ahead of the clash with the formidable Indians.

Speaking to the media ahead of the game at Perth Stadium, Nortje conceded that there was little room for further slip-ups by the Proteas.

He said: “Obviously the first game didn’t go according to plan. We came so close but the weather meant it ended as a no result. It was so tight.

“Hopefully now after that second game we can continue the momentum and take it into the next few games. It’s important to try and get the results when we do have the opportunity to play.

“The weather has played its part so far, but we can’t worry too much about that. All we can do is focus on what we need to do and make sure we do it.”

South Africa’s bowling attack is amongst the best at the World Cup and Nortje acknowledged they had a formidable pack. But he was more impressed with the way the batsmen had performed after Quinton de Kock blazed an unbeaten 47 in the first match and then struck a half century, while Rilee Rossouw recorded an impeccable ton in match two.

“I think the guys have been batting very well,” he stated. “We’ve had some very good starts and the team has really been sticking to their game.

“Everyone has been following the plans that we’ve worked at during training. It’s just about executing and we’ve done that so far. So I think the team’s really stuck well to our philosophy and our structure of how to go about things and hopefully we can continue like we have been going so far.”

At the World Cup last year, the Proteas agonisingly missed out on a place in the semi-finals on net run-rate. It was a bitter pill to swallow for the team, but 12 months on and Nortje feels the time might be right to challenge for the top prize.

“I think we’ve probably been saying it for the last two seasons now,” he added. “Last year we lost one game at the World Cup and we were out of it. That was also a close game. I think we have a really good team, the guys have been together now for such a long time, everyone knows where they fit it.

“One or two guys come in and they fit into the roles that are open or where they can add value by bringing something different. All in all, I think everyone understands their place and what to do on the day, we’ve been gelling well. Hopefully we can win the World Cup this time.”

South Africa squad – ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Australia 2022

Temba Bavuma (captain, DP World Lions), Quinton de Kock (Momentum Multiply Titans), Reeza Hendricks (DP World Lions), Marco Jansen (Gbets Warriors), Heinrich Klaasen (Momentum Multiply Titans), Keshav Maharaj (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Aiden Markram (Momentum Multiply Titans), David Miller (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Lungi Ngidi (Momentum Multiply Titans), Anrich Nortje (Gbets Warriors), Wayne Parnell (Six Gun Grill Western Province), Kagiso Rabada (DP World Lions), Rilee Rossouw (ITEC Knights), Tabraiz Shamsi (Momentum Multiply Titans), Tristan Stubbs (Gbets Warriors).

South Africa Group Stage Itinerary

Monday, 24 October – 19:00 (10:00 SAST) 

South Africa vs Zimbabwe ended in a no result – Bellerive Oval, Hobart

Thursday, 27 October – 14:00 (05:00 SAST) 

South Africa beat Bangladesh by 104 runs – SCG, Sydney

Sunday, 30 October – 19:00 (13:00 SAST) 

India vs South Africa – Perth Stadium, Perth

Thursday, 03 November – 19:00 (10:00 SAST) 

Pakistan vs South Africa – SCG, Sydney

Sunday, 06 November – 10:30 (02:00 SAST) 

South Africa vs Netherlands – Adelaide Oval, Adelaide

Cricket came to South Africa during the Napoleonic Wars and with the British forces occupying South Africa. The first match recorded was in 1808 in Cape Town between two service teams, for a prize of one thousand rix-dollars.

The oldest cricket club in South Africa is the Port Elizabeth Cricket Club, founded in 1843. Few clubs in the world can boast such a long existence. The first championship was held in Port Elizabeth (now Gqeberha) in 1876 for the “champion bat.” Competing teams were Cape Town, Grahamstown, King Williams Town, and Port Elizabeth (now Gqeberha). It was won by King Williams Town and the year after that too.

Submit your sporting news for free here: MyPR.co.za.

Go On – Share the Gqeberha Love!

Views Since 15 July 2022: 56

Gqeberha’s Latest News and Events can be accessed on MyGqeberha.com.

The following two tabs change content below.
My Twitter profileMy Facebook profileMy Google+ profileMy LinkedIn profileMy Flickr profileMy Pinterest profile

Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.