3 things teams can do to halt South Africa at the 2023 World Cup
South Africa are currently on the warpath, decimating teams in the 2023 ODI World Cup in a convincing manner to ignite hopes for a maiden title triumph. Barring a shock loss to the Netherlands in Dharamsala, the Proteas have been on point in their campaign so far.
They occupy second place in the points table and are on course to make it to the semi-finals. South Africa have a few tricky fixtures left in the form of India, Pakistan, and New Zealand in the coming weeks, but their strong start will come in handy when the league stage comes to a close.
South Africa have embraced a positive brand of cricket on flat, subcontinent surfaces, which has played a huge role in them being the first team to amass three 350-plus scores in a single edition of the World Cup.
The Proteas are showing no signs of slowing down and could potentially go all the way if they continue to perform in a similar fashion.
They are certainly a huge threat to the opposition in this run of form, and on that note, here are three things teams can do to halt South Africa at the 2023 World Cup.
#1 Try to get South Africa to chase
Dictating the opposition to bat or bowl first is something that is not always in control, but when the opportunity presents itself, teams should look to make South Africa chase.
The Proteas' sole loss in the tournament has come while chasing, and it is arguably an eye-opener. Their numbers while chasing a total in the recent past have been poor. In the seven matches that they have batted second in 2023, they have won only three times, which pales in comparison to their record while batting first.
South Africa and high-stakes pressure do not go hand in hand, and the additional burden of run chases coupled with the magnitude of the World Cup, makes it an area that can be exploited by the opposition - if luck falls in their favor prior to the contest.
#2 Subdue the middle order and expose the lack of depth
South Africa's batting unit has been a force to be reckoned with, particularly the middle order. The likes of Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, and Marco Jansen have punished the bowlers at the back end of the innings.
While it is easier said than done, the opposition bowlers will have to ensure that none of the aforementioned batters inflict irreversible damage. For instance, try to use spin bowling as little as possible against Klaasen. And also stick to defensive areas in the final 10 overs, considering that the Proteas have regularly scored over 100 runs in the third powerplay.
Furthermore, South Africa's lack of batting depth has rather been clouded due to their batters' scintillating form. With Marco Jansen coming in at No. 7, the Proteas have a long tail. While Keshav Maharaj has chipped in with runs at times, modern-day cricket demands a better candidate at No. 8 in terms of batting.
Just like their questionable batting depth, a similar issue arises across the bowling front as well. South Africa have used only five bowlers across all of their matches so far, and they will have a hard time if multiple bowlers have a bad day simultaneously.
Their best choice when it comes to a sixth bowler is Aiden Markram. The stand-in captain could be a handy bowler in subcontinent conditions, but he has to be exposed gradually and not unleashed straight when turmoil strikes.
#3 Play their brand of cricket against them
South Africa have displayed a ruthless brand of cricket so far, exploiting the conditions to the fullest. Their batters being in solid form has helped their case, and they have been aggressive with the ball as well. They lead the list for the highest number of wickets taken in the first powerplay.
Marco Jansen has been exceptional with the new ball while Kagiso Rabada has shown glimpses of what he can do when he operates at his best. But there is not a touch of invincibility to the team, particularly the bowling attack.
The Netherlands showcased that the Proteas bowling attack can be put under pressure. Oppositions may have to take some risks, but they can dominate South Africa with an aggressive approach themselves. As mentioned before, the lack of a sixth bowling option will worsen the situation for South Africa under siege.
Will the Proteas go all the way in the 2023 ODI World Cup? Let us know what you think.