Reeza: “Final 10 overs didn’t go according to plan”

Despite fielding a relatively inexperienced squad, the South African cricket team’s T20I series defeat to West Indies on Sunday was still a tough pill to swallow, according to Proteas batsman Reeza Hendricks.

South Africa seemed to be in control during their chase of 180 runs in Tarouba, starting with a blistering opening partnership of 63 runs in just 4.3 overs between Ryan Rickelton (20 off 13) and top-scorer Hendricks (44 off 18). However, crucial wickets at key moments derailed their momentum. Even at 129/3 after 13.4 overs, the Proteas appeared well-positioned, but they collapsed to 149 all out, resulting in a 2-0 series loss in the three-match encounter.

Reflecting on the match, Hendricks noted that the team was in a strong position for much of their chase. "It was disappointing losing today. We came out expecting to put on a good performance, win the game, and level the series. I thought we bowled particularly well, and the score they posted was about par. We set up the chase nicely, but unfortunately lost our way in the middle and towards the end."

Hendricks admitted that the final 10 overs didn’t go according to plan, but highlighted the positives, especially for the younger players gaining valuable international experience. "With new players, it’s great exposure for them to experience international cricket. Some of them stepped up, particularly in the first game. There are a lot of positives for those guys getting these opportunities. From here, they can only grow by learning from this series."

All-rounder Patrick Kruger was one standout, impressing with figures of 2/29 in the second match and contributing 44 runs in the opening game. "Patrick Kruger did well, especially considering this is his first series ahead of the [T20] World Cup. He showed promise in the last game, so there’s a lot he can take away from this experience," Hendricks concluded.