Top-order renaissance resolves South African Rubik's cube to legitimize World Cup dreams
As South Africa pulled off another heist in their final group-stage encounter of the 2024 T20 World Cup against minnows Nepal, one could still not overlook their top-order scores resembling a telephone number. The top three of Reeza Hendricks, Quinton de Kock, and Aiden Markram combined for 129 runs at a woeful average of under 11 during the tournament's first leg.
Yet, the Proteas won all four games, three of which were by a whisker, leaving fans wondering which prism to look from - nervous with the lucky escapes or rejoicing with the knowledge that the highly accomplished top-order is due for big runs?
Turns out it was the latter as the head of the South African batting finally woke up from their slumber in their first Super Eight clash against co-hosts USA. Playing at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua, the Proteas' batting produced a display invoking memories of Sir Viv in the first half of the innings.
Embodying Richards' flamboyance and gusto, Quinton de Kock pummeled the bowling from the get-go to shelf any lingering doubts about his place in the XI. The southpaw scored a stroke-filled 40-ball 74, mixing aggression with smartness.
De Kock used the breeze blowing in one direction to tremendous effect while pulling off his trademark leg-side maximums. And he found his perfect ally in skipper Markram, who belted 46 off 32 deliveries to set South Africa up for a massive total.
The South African skipper expressed more relief than joy over the top order firing during the mid-innings break.
"We've been lacking that (partnership at the top). Nice to have a partnership with him (De Kock) and set it up. Happy for the top order to eventually contribute," said Markram.
Markram's usage of 'eventually' sums up the disastrous performances from the top order through the group stages.
The top three averaged under 13 each while scoring under a run-a-ball entering the Super Eights. Yet, De Kock and Markram coming through renders South Africa a legitimate hope of finally breaking through in a World Cup.
South African captains' past T20 World Cup frailties heighten importance of Markram making a mark
Here's a little-known fact - South Africa have qualified for the semi-final only twice in eight T20 World Cup editions. When the question of 'why' is thrown out there, it leads to a flurry of answers, from the 'C' word to luck to the rain gods.
Yet, a closer look at the performances of their captains in the previous T20 World Cups highlights a more tangible reason for their dismal showings.
The list features three of South Africa's all-time legends - Graeme Smith, AB de Villiers, and Faf du Plessis. Yet, none could stamp their authority with the bat in T20 World Cups.
One of the well-accepted parameters to classify high impact in T20s is the average and strike rate totaling at least 160. The above table demonstrates how only Faf in the 2014 edition achieved the same with over 182 (31.66 + 150.79) on impact.
The result? South Africa's best T20 World Cup showing with a close semi-final defeat to India. Further adding to their woes is that only once has a South African captain scored a half-century in eight T20 World Cup editions. All of which is the precursor to Markram in the ongoing tournament.
Coming into the USA clash, the 31-year-old was averaging a shocking 7.75 with a strike rate of 66 in four outings. Even after his sublime 32-ball 46 against the USA, Markram's figures paint a sorry picture, with an average of 15.40 at a strike rate of 97.46.
Considering how the past captains' poor showings have mirrored the side's early exits in T20 World Cups, it is incumbent upon Makram to string together a series of solid scores to flip this developing narrative.
That he was four runs shy of a half-century, a landmark only once achieved by a Proteas captain in T20 World Cups, is hopefully the start of his and the team's redemption to rewrite their wrecked World Cup history.
If the past is anything to go by, South Africa's chances of qualifying for the semi-final and beyond may hinge on Markram's volume of runs in the upcoming matches.
Old habits die hard - South Africa cannot embrace prosperity
While South Africa continued their unbeaten run through the 2024 T20 World Cup, their inability to handle prosperity almost bit them again in the USA clash. With the bat, the side endured a mini-collapse from 126/1 at the start of the 13th over to 141/4 in 15 overs.
They eventually huffed and puffed their way to a formidable 194/4 in 20 overs and had the USA on the ropes at 76/5 in the 12th over. Yet, the inability to seal the deal and the lack of a killer instinct seeped into the South African ranks for the umpteenth time in a crucial World Cup game.
Overs 11 to 18 disappeared for an unfathomable 91 runs at a rate of 13 per over without the fall of a wicket as the South African bowlers unraveled, bringing back several old and treacherous World Cup memories.
Finally, veteran pacer Kagiso Rabada had seen enough as he bowled a two-run penultimate over, with the USA needing a very gettable 28 off 12, effectively drawing the curtains to a drama-filled contest.
The champion bowler finished with outstanding figures of 3/18 in four overs, including the back-breaking wicket of a well-set Harmeet Singh to end the flourishing sixth wicket stand.
All that said, sports' oldest cliche of 'A win is a win' holds, and the Proteas will believe their top-order resurgence, followed by finishing on the right side of another tense climax, bolster their dreams of lifting the elusive World Cup trophy.