NewsConrad: ‘Bitterly disappointed but we have got the makings of a great side’
South Africa’s all-format coach, Shukri Conrad, refused to blame conditions or inexperience after his young side lost the tri-series final to New Zealand in Harare, describing the match as “a game of millimetres”. Nevertheless, he left Zimbabwe encouraged by what he called “so many good things that happened there today”.
Key facts first
• New Zealand claimed the title by the slimmest of margins, defending 182 and winning by three runs.
• South Africa, chasing what would have been their highest successful T20I pursuit against the Black Caps, finished on 179 for 6.
• Only two members of their previous T20 World Cup squad – Reeza Hendricks and Gerald Coetzee – were involved.
“We’re still bitterly disappointed,” Conrad admitted at the post-match press conference. “There’s so many good things that we can take forward from here. The result is disappointing but there were so many good things that happened there today that we can be really proud of and that I am really proud of. With such a young and inexperienced side, to put up the type of performance today, that is also pleasing to see. It’s no excuse for losing and we’re still bitterly disappointed. But there were some really good things.”
Pretorius promoted, Brevis nearly finishes
Conrad’s boldest call was to restore 20-year-old Lhuan-dre Pretorius to the top of the order after three lean matches and a brief demotion to No. 5. The right-hander responded with a 35-ball 51 – his maiden T20I fifty – setting up the chase.
“Lhuan-dre is one of the bright prospects for South Africa. We saw what he has in him with the innings he played today,” Conrad said. “He had a lean period throughout this tournament, but he’s a classy young cricketer and exciting times lie ahead for him. Young players go through tough times and very often don’t know how to deal with it. But for him to come back in the final and play the way he did gave us a really good foundation.”
Finishing responsibilities fell to Dewald Brevis, another 20-year-old who has used the SA20 and domestic 50-over cricket to push for higher honours. Batting at No. 6, Brevis launched three sixes and was two hits away from turning the match when he miscued Ben Sears to deep mid-wicket for 42 off 20.
“Dewald is a special talent,” Conrad observed. “He’s hugely disappointed that he didn’t take us home but on another day, he would have hit that out of Harare. He’s a special talent. He’s probably one of the sweetest strikers of a cricket ball in world cricket at the moment. You’re never out of a game when you’ve still got Dewald Brevis in the shed or he’s at the wicket, and he’ll be better for this experience this week. He got us close on a few occasions and it’s”
(Conrad’s final sentence trailed off as he shifted focus to the broader picture.)
Depth on show, lessons for Australia
The coach will now take largely the same group to Australia for three ODIs and three T20Is next month. The short turnaround, he believes, should harden the squad ahead of next February’s T20 World Cup in India.
Analytically, South Africa’s powerplay batting has improved – they reached 57-1 after six overs, their quickest start of the tournament – but death bowling remains a concern. New Zealand plundered 54 runs from the last four overs despite the slower Harare surface. Gerald Coetzee and left-arm seamer Marco Jansen leaked ten boundaries between them, unable to nail yorkers consistently. Those details, Conrad conceded, are where “millimetres” matter.
Why the glass is half-full
• Pretorius’ strike rate of 146 and Brevis’ 210 underline fearless intent.
• Hendricks, often criticised for conservatism, adapted to the tempo with a run-a-ball 40 before accelerating.
• Spinner Nqaba Peter, on debut, claimed 2 for 24 and kept Glenn Phillips quiet – an encouraging sign given South Africa’s search for a wrist-spin option.
Room for growth
• The side conceded 17 wides – small errors that inflated New Zealand’s total.
• Only one of the final five overs was bowled by a spinner, despite the surface holding.
Respectful of results yet optimistic, Conrad summed up: “We’ve got the makings of a great side. Today hurt, but if we keep putting ourselves in these positions, the wins will come.”
The squad flies to Perth on Monday, leaving Harare with a series defeat, renewed belief, and two emerging batsmen now firmly in the World Cup frame.
