Heinrich Klaasen praised South Africa for winning “scrappy” matches during the group stage of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024 in the United States.
South Africa was placed in T20 World Cup Group D alongside Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Netherlands and Nepal. The Proteas recorded close wins against the Tigers and the Dutch and Klaasen believed that winning such matches proved that they had learned to adapt to the conditions.
"I thought we had a par total," Klaasen said in a press conference ahead of facing England.
"Our bowlers got put a little bit under the pump at the back end of the game, so it was a good outing for the batters. The batters needed it more than the bowlers, guys getting their swings again. It was quite difficult in America and looking around the Caribbean, the wickets are getting better and better.
"We had four scrappy [group] games that we pulled through. It wasn't pretty. Our bowlers bowled incredibly well in those five games now. The batters just [needed to] find a way to scrap and we had to adjust our gameplans a little bit. Hopefully, on better wickets, we can find our swings and be our natural selves. That's the one positive that's still out there for us to go find.
"But the rest of the way we've been playing, the way we've been grafting and adapting to conditions is brilliant and that shows the maturity in the group as well. We are obviously looking forward to that perfect game, but hopefully that will happen the longer the tournament goes on for us and find it when it really matters."
South Africa defeated the United States in their first Super 8 match of the tournament and they will now lock horns with England in the next match. A win against the defending champions would put them at ease before facing West Indies in the final Super 8 encounter.
- Heinrich Klaasen
