New York:

Anrich Nortje, who delivered his career-best T20I figures of 4 wickets for 7 runs in his four-over quota, believed that hitting 20 sixes would not make the match entertaining as a substitute it is a technique that goes into the sport. Nortje spearheaded South Africa to a tense victory over Sri Lanka, regardless of difficult pitch situations. The low-scoring encounter, performed on the Nassau County Worldwide Cricket Stadium, noticed Sri Lanka dismissed for simply 77 runs, with South Africa narrowly overcoming the goal after a nervy chase.

“It would not at all times imply, appropriate me if I am incorrect, there must be 20 sixes in a sport to make it entertaining. There’s nonetheless plenty of technique that goes into the sport. There’s plenty of ability that goes into the sport, whether or not it is sixes or quick bowlers or spinners, nevertheless it could be. So, I assumed the sport was a superb sport. It was nonetheless an in depth sport on the finish of the day, one other wicket or two, and issues might need been totally different. We would have been in a bit bit extra hassle,” mentioned Nortje post-match convention.

Regardless of the challenges of uneven pitch and sluggish outfield, South Africa’s gamers tailored to the situations, with some strolling out of form periods as a result of unpredictability of the nets.

“We did not understand it [the pitches] is all from the identical [time],” Nortje mentioned. “We kind of assumed that they are coming from the identical, let me name it, manufacturing facility. However sure, it was a bit bit up and down within the nets as properly. We have to practice in addition to the batters additionally want to coach.

“It isn’t at all times good to exit and face balls leaping up, I believe you adapt to it on the day and slightly work on what you wish to within the nets. And that is why I believe one or two of the fellows ultimately walked out, however they had been nonetheless batting dealing with us. Additionally you do not wish to get hit. And a day earlier than the sport, you wish to kind of undergo your routines as a batter and so they had been recent and spicy as properly,” mentioned Nortje.

The New York venue’s situations had been a degree of dialogue, with ten drop-in pitches introduced in for the World Cup, 4 for the primary venue and 6 for the coaching facility. Whereas India additionally educated on these pitches, and head coach Rahul Dravid famous that they had settled a bit after preliminary liveliness. Regardless of combined suggestions, Nortje beleived that there was nothing incorrect with the pitches.

“I do not suppose there’s something incorrect with the wickets. It is (allowed to be) good for bowlers as properly. We’re additionally allowed to get some kind of help. It is totally different to what guys have been used to for the previous couple of months or years. There’s a bit bit extra within the wicket for the bowlers and I do not see something incorrect with that.

“When it is flat, folks wish to see sixes…so the wheels ought to flip a bit bit someplace. I do not know what to anticipate within the subsequent few weeks. It’d get a bit bit flatter. It’d get a bit bit slower, sooner. Who is aware of? I am not the skilled on it, however I believe our largest factor is simply to kind of adapt to no matter will get thrown in entrance of us within the subsequent sport once more. See within the first over what to anticipate and attempt to regulate as greatest as attainable,” he mentioned.

Heinrich Klaasen, who alleviated South Africa’s nerves with a vital six and a 4 off a single Wanindu Hasaranga over, acknowledged the problem of the pitch however echoed the sentiment that it nonetheless made for an entertaining sport.

“I do not suppose it is ultimate for T20 cricket, but it surely’s nonetheless a very good entertaining sport,” he mentioned. “However our bowlers bowled extraordinarily properly. The margin for error for the bowlers can be not as huge as you suppose. It isn’t straightforward for the batters. It took like nearly a combination of Take a look at cricket, one-day, batting-wise to recover from the road. Fortunately we did not chase 120. That may’ve been very fascinating,” mentioned Klaasen.

–IANS

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