“Stay in the Game” is the title of a poem written by South African spin bowling coach Paul Adams, which he read to his team before their final group stage match against Bangladesh at the T20 World Cup. Now they have to hope to remain in the tournament. Despite a seven-wicket win on Saturday night, they had a 10-wicket win over West Indies in the opener, followed by 80-run wins over Scotland and South Africa. They also lost to England, so a place in the semi-finals is not guaranteed. Their fate will depend on the outcome of the final group matches, in which West Indies play England and first Scotland.This means that a situation could arise where the three teams in the pool end up with six points each, with net run rate being the determining factor for the knockouts. South Africa made a huge flop against Bangladesh, chasing 107 in 17.2 overs, dropping their net run rate from 1.5 to 1.38, but that small margin could prove crucial.
South Africa were already aware of this at the start of the game and adapted the game to what they thought was best to limit Bangladesh to small numbers on a fairly lively pitch. They became the first team in the event to record eight consecutive over-paces before the introduction of spinners. Marisanne Kapp and Ayabonga Kaka swung three overs each up front before Nadine de Klerk and Annelie Derksen took over and Bangladesh were reduced to 36 for two in the first eight overs.
Then, with no option for another seam, South Africa went into a spin and things got a bit tricky. Overall, South Africa conceded 11 runs wide and lost their bite as Bangladesh settled down. Still, on any other day, limiting the opposition to 106 would have been cause for celebration rather than criticism, so it’s hard to be too hard on South Africa.
The same goes if you win the game with 16 extra pitches. No one can accuse South Africa of not showing its intentions. That’s because each of the top three offered a chance to lace up their skates.
Laura Wolvaardt was given a point down by Sovana Mostari’s diving at the setback point, Anneke Bosch was on seven and could have been run out at the non-striker’s end, and Tazmin Blitz sent the ball to deep midwicket. He dropped the game with 21 points. Chasing the score, all three were dismissed for balls above 13.2 before South Africa needed to complete the chase to achieve a net run rate above West Indies. Cupp and Chloe Tryon then got to the finish, and they did. For South Africa, all that remains is to wait. 3 days.
That’s not long in the grand scheme of things, but a tournament that lasts just 17 days is plenty of time for a lot to happen. South Africa knows it has done everything it can and will do its best not to overthink it.
“The most important thing is to continue to lean on each other and come together as one unit,” Blitz said. “The golden oldies, and I’m probably one of them, will probably relax. We’ll definitely rest and prepare as if we’re going to the semi-finals. There’s no point in having negative thoughts about it. There may also be team activities, and I think I’ll be watching the games, but if possible, I won’t say who I’m supporting in the team room.
South Africa’s pace bowler takes control from the start against Bangladesh • Getty Images
There’s no need for that. Realistically, South Africa will probably want England to win both matches and top their group, with West Indies finishing third. There are other less likely scenarios in which England are eliminated, but South Africa probably won’t spend too much time on them. Adams has encouraged his players to stay in the moment and has done a variety of things to make as much of an impact as possible in each pregame huddle.
“He’s a very passionate guy. Last game he actually took off his shoes and put his feet on the ground and said, ‘We’re down to earth,'” Blitz said. “I wish I could say that poem again, but it was very, very motivating. I actually said to him, ‘hashtag google.com.’ Because I don’t know where he got it from. But he is very passionate and says this in powerful words. And he’s trying to get us up and ready for the game.”
Adams, who played two matches in the 1996 ODI World Cup, continued to look for ways to inspire, composing 12 rhyming couplets without the help of the internet, and his attitude inspired the team. are. The British player in particular has learned not to be too hard on himself as he tops the run charts this tournament.
“It may look like I’m doing well, but I’m not going to put myself down just yet,” she said. “I’ve been told a few times that I need to be a little more loving and kinder to myself because I’m so hard on myself, so I’m trying to talk to myself better, but it’s good for the team. I especially want to be an opening batter.
“Especially in the power play, you don’t want your strike rate to be less than 100. When you hit 45 or 60 in the power play, which sets up the whole game, you want it to be in the 140 range. I’m satisfied.” I’m happy to be able to contribute to the team, but I don’t think I’ll be happy until my strike rate improves. ”
Her strike rate for the entire tournament is 105.44, slightly lower than opening partner Laura Wahlwaardt (111.27), but about the same as other openers. If the track speed decreases in the final weeks of the tournament, the scoring could become even more fluid and the margins could tighten even further. South Africa has been here before.
At the 2021 T20 World Cup held in the UAE, the men’s team could not catch up with 85 points against Bangladesh, resulting in them missing out on advancing to the semi-finals. Given that the fortunes of the teams have been similar in recent times, with both the women’s and men’s teams reaching the finals of the last T20 World Cup, the women’s team will once again struggle with their scoring rate against Bangladesh. I hope it doesn’t happen.
In Adams’ words, they were able to “just let the doubt and fear go away, own this moment and play one play at a time.”
Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo’s South Africa and women’s cricket correspondent
