Proteas were 'quietly confident' heading into world record T20 chase: 'We never doubted ourselves'

After conceding 258 in their 20 overs, the Proteas of 2023 heard a throwback to a 2006 chirp and were "quietly confident" of launching Sunday's sensational world record T20 chase against the West Indies here in Centurion.

It would've been perfectly understandable for outsiders to have speculated on the home side's state of mind after walking off the field having bled all in a must-win game to tie the three-match series.

It probably explains why Kagiso Rabada made sure he covered his bases in terms of morale.

Seventeen years back, Jacques Kallis's quip that the bowlers had done their jobs and that the Aussies were "10-15 runs short" in the famous '438' match at the Wanderers had notably calmed down a chastened unit following their mauling with the ball.

READ: AS IT HAPPENED| Proteas v West Indies: SA lands record T20 victory thanks to De Kock, Hendricks masterclasses

"Funnily enough, KG said they're 10 runs short when we went off the field, which probably is similar to what Jacques did for the team," said Reeza Hendricks, who gained many plaudits for a sublime 28-ball 68 that perfectly complemented a dynamic Quinton de Kock's maiden hundred in T20 internationals.

"We managed to get over the line and play this incredible game."

But it comes across as debatable whether much attention was given to his pity brand of motivation. 

"The chat was quite simple," said Hendricks.

"Everybody was quietly confident that this was a good wicket. We never doubted ourselves at any stage. We believed we had the batting order to chase the score down."

As bullish as that sounds, it still required his and De Kock's opening stand of 150 in 10.5 overs - which featured a T20I world record powerplay of 102 runs - to truly put the Proteas in the frame.

Hend