Proteas legend and fast bowler Makhaya Ntini has showered the South African bowling unit at the ICC T20 Cricket World Cup with praises, saying that they stepped up when the team needed them to.
Without taking anything away from the rest of the bowling unit that was lethal in front of the wickets, Ntini did, however, single out star pacer Kagiso Rabada, saying that he brought his A-game.
“Our bowling attack has been very good at the World Cup, [Ottneil] Baartman has been doing very well, Marco Jansen has been starting very well, then we have the likes of Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi as our spinners,” Ntini said.
“So, all those guys have been just brilliant because they have also shown the unity in that bowling department that can win you games at any moment.
“But then without saying that much, we have seen Rabada, whenever it is time for him to step up, he shows and brings the Kagiso Rabada that we all know. So, for me, it is just one of those things that makes the team united.
The 46-year-old also commended captain Aiden Markram for his leadership qualities on and off the pitch.
“I also need to give props to Markram as the captain because I think he has conducted and led the team very well and by example at this World Cup,” Ntini added.
The Proteas made history by reaching their maiden cricket World Cup final which was played yesterday after easing past Afghanistan with a nine-wicket haul on Thursday.
Their victory qualified them for the T20 World Cup for the first time.
Coach Rob Walter’s men had a great T20 World campaign as they went seven straight games unbeaten before the grand finale. Their impressive run at the World Cup in the USA and West Indies all started with that commanding six-wicket victory against Sri Lanka in their Group D opening match.
Then followed the pulsating small-margin winning games, where they beat the Netherlands by four wickets with only seven balls remaining, then the four-run victory against Bangladesh and the unexpected one-run triumph against minnows Nepal in what was a dead rubber match, having already qualified for the Super-Eight.
They then went past co-hosts US in the Super-Eight by 18 runs, which was followed by two statement wins against England and West Indies to book a semi-final meeting with unexpected opponents Afghanistan – whom they blew away and dismantled by nine wickets.
