South Africa captain Aiden Markram insisted that appearances can be deceptive, even as his side surged to a sixth straight win in the T20 World Cup with a dominant nine-wicket victory over West Indies on Thursday.
The Proteas chased down 177 with ease, adding to earlier commanding wins over New Zealand and hosts India, further strengthening their credentials as one of the tournament favourites. Yet Markram maintained that the journey has been anything but comfortable.
“It doesn’t feel easy,” he said after the match. “They’re quality teams — New Zealand, India and West Indies — and performing well against sides like that gives you confidence. But every game takes a lot out of you. The intensity is extremely high, and in T20 cricket things can change very quickly.”
Despite the convincing margins, Markram emphasized the preparation and planning behind the scenes.
“The scorelines may look comfortable, but we understand how much work goes into beating teams of that calibre. The squad has been fully committed, every meeting, every training session. There’s real pride in this group and a strong desire to achieve something special.”
Speaking about the conditions against West Indies, Markram said the surface initially offered grip and extra bounce before easing later in the evening.
“Early on it was a bit tacky with steep bounce from a hard length. We tried to maximize that with the ball. As the pitch settled, we adjusted accordingly, and the guys adapted really well.”
While chasing 177, South Africa shifted gears smoothly as conditions improved, completing the target with nearly four overs to spare.
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“We felt 180 was still within reach if we batted smartly. The intent was there, but it was controlled aggression. The batters trusted their skills and stuck to the plan.”
Markram also credited the collective effort behind South Africa’s unbeaten run in the Super 8 stage.
“In this format, you can’t rely on one or two individuals. If someone has an off day, another player needs to step up. Thankfully, different players have contributed at different times.”
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