South Africa’s head coach Rob Walter acknowledged execution issues in their semi-final defeat to New Zealand but emphasized the effort of his players. New Zealand’s record score and strong partnerships set the tone for their victory. Despite a late rally from David Miller, South Africa faltered with key wickets lost. Walter praised New Zealand’s spinners and indicated areas for South Africa’s improvement for future competitions.
In the recent Champions Trophy semi-final, South African head coach Rob Walter emphasized that while execution was an issue, the effort from his players remained unquestionable. The team suffered a 50-run defeat to New Zealand, who posted a record score of 362-6 before South Africa responded with 312-9. Walter mentioned New Zealand’s strong batting performance, particularly highlighting a 164-run partnership between Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson.
Despite South Africa’s attempts to control the scoring rate, Walter noted that the bowling conditions were not conducive, saying, “the ball wasn’t really gripping” which allowed New Zealand to score freely on a batting-friendly wicket. This effort culminated in a strong total that proved challenging for South Africa. Though David Miller performed admirably with a century, it was not sufficient to secure a victory.
Walter reflected on critical moments in the match, particularly the loss of several key wickets after establishing a good start. He acknowledged that this slump from 125-1 to 189-5 had an adverse effect on their chances. Furthermore, he praised New Zealand’s spinners, indicating their effectiveness throughout the tournament and specifically mentioning Mitchell Santner’s impact in the match.
In conclusion, the South African team’s semi-final loss in the Champions Trophy highlights both the admirable efforts of the players and the challenges posed by New Zealand’s batting and spin bowling. Coach Rob Walter remains hopeful for future improvement, recognizing critical match moments and the need for a better execution in high-stakes situations.
Original Source: www.hindustantimes.com
