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 doesn't make the match entertaining instead it's a strategy that goes into the game. Nortje spearheaded South Africa to a tense victory over Sri Lanka, despite challenging pitch conditions. The low-scoring encounter, played at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, saw Sri Lanka dismissed for just 77 runs, with South Africa narrowly overcoming the target after a nervy chase.
"It doesn't always mean, correct me if I'm wrong, there needs to be 20 sixes in a game to make it entertaining. There's still a lot of strategy that goes into the game. There's a lot of skill that goes into the game, whether it's sixes or fast bowlers or spinners, however it might be. So, I thought the game was a brilliant game. It was still a close game at the end of the day, another wicket or two, and things might have been different. We might have been in a little bit more trouble," said Nortje post-match conference.
Despite the challenges of uneven pitch and slow outfield, South Africa's players adapted to the conditions, with some walking out of practice sessions due to the unpredictability of the nets.
"We didn't know it [the pitches] is all from the same [time]," Nortje said. "We sort of assumed that they're coming from the same, let me call it, factory. But yes, it was a little bit up and down in the nets as well. We need to train as well as the batters also need to train.
"It's not always nice to go out and face balls jumping up, I think you adapt to it on the day and rather work on what you want to in the nets. And that's why I think one or two of the guys eventually walked out, but they were
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South Africa Cricket Team
T20 World Cup 2024
Anrich Nortje