Aiden Markram has embarked into uncharted territory after becoming the first South African captain to make it to the final of a World Cup. Beginning from 1992, South Africa have suffered numerous heartbreaks in the semifinals of multiple World Cups, up until the last ODI World Cup in India. However, the jinx was finally broken against Afghanistan on Wednesday as South Africa now have a shot at glory.
“It’s obviously a really nice feeling, really good feeling,” Markram said after his team crushed Afghanistan. “This team’s been together for a long time now as a white ball group, both formats, and it’s nice for us to get to a final. We feel and we believe that we can compete with the best in the world and we can win trophies. And it’s nice for us to now have that opportunity and make it into a final. “
Markram was also the winning captain of the 2014 U-19 World Cup which was held in the UAE and hoped the learnings from winning that World Cup final would benefit him come Saturday, albeit the stark contrast in the levels.
“You get a little bit of confidence and a little bit of belief knowing you have done it on a certain level before. I don’t think it’s the exact same here at men’s cricket but there are similar pressures that you have to deal with being in a final and we would have experienced that in 2014.”
What promised to be an enthralling semi-final, turned into a rather one-sided affair spearheaded by the South African bowlers who dismissed Afghanistan for a paltry 56. What looked like a formidable top six with the bat for South Africa has had few and far opportunities in the last three weeks to showcase their ability. Markram though credited credited his bowlers for their consistency throughout the tournament.
“The bowlers, not just today, but the whole competition, they’ve been really good. Probably saving the batters on certain occasions, but conditions I would say have been in their favour. But even if you say that, they still have to get it done right. And that’s exactly what they’ve been doing for us game in and game out. So, you have to give a lot of appreciation towards them.”
A well rounded South Africa will now wait for the winner of the heavyweight clash between India and England at Barbados for a final tussle for the trophy.
