Smith hails team after close win by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Player:	GC Smith, BB McCullum
Event:	ICC World Twenty20 2009

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DateLine: 10th June 2009

 

South Africa skipper Graeme Smith said he was satisfied with the decent performance by his side.

 

His side secured a one-run victory over New Zealand at Lord's on Tuesday night. The Proteas were asked to bat and were restricted to 128 for seven by a New Zealand outfit that looked pretty sharp on the field.

 

But then the Black Caps also could not do much with the bat. Requiring 15 to win off the last over, they fell one short.

 

Now South Africa will face hosts England in the Super Eights on Thursday and the skipper feels his side is in good shape to take on them.

 

"When you look at the bigger picture it was fantastic for us to have a high-pressure game, especially from a bowling perspective and to defend a total like ours under pressure," said Smith.

 

"Getting our skills right for last-ball overs under pressure was great, and I thought we bowled really well. There are a lot of positives to take from this game."

 

Smith though admitted that their performance with the bat was below average.

 

"We had a good platform at 47-0 in the sixth but maybe lost our way and got a bit tense, but it's probably a good thing and a few of us learned a few important lessons before we go into the Super Eights.

 

"I really believe we have got the batting to play well in all those situations, we just got it wrong today."

 

Kiwi skipper Brendon McCullum standing in as captain in Daniel Vettori's absence, led the way for his side with 57 but was disappointed having not been able to see his side home.

 

"Any time you don't come out with a win you are disappointed," said McCullum. "I thought we bowled and fielded well but our batting was always struggling for momentum right through the innings.

 

"We never had that big over, and you need one or two big overs in a Twenty20 game. So it's frustrating from that point of view but we'll look at the positives and not dwell too much on the negatives."