New Delhi, February 13 – After three matches in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, South Africa has emerged as a strong contender for a spot in the Super 8, securing a commanding victory over the New Zealand national cricket team in Ahmedabad, and former South Africa captain Shaun Pollock praised the team’s performance.
Having already defeated the Afghanistan and UAE national cricket teams, South Africa now has a firm grip on their qualification prospects. Their latest victory was marked by a strong performance across all aspects of the game.
Reflecting on the match, Pollock highlighted the importance of setting a strong tone early on. “It was a good batting performance, wasn’t it? We saw in both innings that the top order was relatively easy to bowl to,” he said in a JioHotstar interview.
He also praised captain Aiden Markram, who anchored the team’s pursuit of 175, saying, “Aiden Markram set the tone brilliantly.”
Pollock also acknowledged the contribution of all-rounder Marco Jansen, whose bowling proved decisive. While surprised that he didn't bowl with the new ball, he acknowledged Jansen's tactical value.
“I thought Marco Jansen was excellent. I was a little surprised they didn't open with him, but we discussed his ability to generate extra bounce, which could have been effective against New Zealand’s strong top order, and it proved to be the case,” he said.
Jansen broke a threatening opening partnership and later dismissed key batters as New Zealand struggled to reach a higher score. “He broke that partnership, took the wicket of Seifert, and also got rid of Chapman when he and Mitchell were looking good. He was very good, and it was no surprise that he was named Player of the Match,” Pollock added.
Assessing South Africa’s campaign as a whole, Pollock noted their steady progress, while cautioning that improvements are still possible. “South Africa have had a strong start and produced some good cricket, particularly in this game. I don’t think they’ll be overly pleased with their performance against Afghanistan and how close they came to losing.”
He emphasized the depth within the squad, even as he identified areas for refinement. “But they have a good mix. All the batters seem to be in good form. Brevis could probably contribute more in the middle order. Bowling-wise, there are plenty of options. You think about the fact that Nortje hasn’t yet been introduced. Maybe South Africa are just missing a mystery spinner, someone like Varun Chakaravarthy, to add a little spice in the middle overs.”
Despite not yet being mathematically assured of qualification, Pollock believes that South Africa will progress. “But overall, you can’t be unhappy with how South Africa played, and it’s a positive sign moving forward. Mathematically, they still haven’t qualified, but I’d be very surprised if they don’t get over the line and into the top eight.”
A pivotal moment in the match came with the dismissal of Mark Chapman, who, alongside Daryl Mitchell, had threatened to take the game away from South Africa. Pollock described that breakthrough as the turning point.
“Chapman’s dismissal was a big one because, at that stage, Daryl Mitchell and Chapman were flying. It looked like they were going to post a massive total. Based on our predictive score and the rate they were going at, they were on course for 200. If they had accelerated a little more, it could have looked more like 210 or 220.”
The former fast bowler also underlined the skill behind the wicket, revealing the delivery that made the difference. “There’s also a lesson for young players. He worked on a new delivery, and that’s the one that got rid of Chapman. It was the knuckleball he developed over the last month or two, and he used it to great effect. The new batter coming in couldn’t score at the same rate. They found it difficult, and the scoring rate dropped dramatically. It was a fantastic bowling effort.”
With three wins from three and momentum building, South Africa’s campaign in Ahmedabad suggests a team that is peaking at the right time, balanced, adaptable, and increasingly confident as the knockout stages approach.