South African captain Graeme Smith yesterday said that the tense win over India at Nagpur would serve as a big boost to the World Cup campaign
South African captain Graeme Smith yesterday said that the tense win over India at Nagpur would serve as a big boost to the World Cup campaign.
"These are the sorts of games that every team needs in a World Cup. We are glad to have played such a game," Smith told MiD DAY during the team's flight from Nagpur, on their way to Kolkata.
South Africa clinched a three-wicket victory over Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men on Saturday with left-arm spinner and lower order batsman Robin Peterson hitting 13 runs off the last over by Ashish Nehra. The Proteas did well to restrict the Indians to 296 who were strongly placed at 267-1 at one stage.u00a0 Asked if his side made heavy weather of a relatively easy target, Smith said: "Difficult to say that. We were on the right ball all the way through but only in last eight overs the match tilted in our favour."
Ireland next
South Africa next play Ireland in Kolkata on March 15 before heading to Dhaka where they would take on Bangladesh on March 19.
Smith said the two-time semi-finalists were not thinking about the knockout stage yet. "Not thinking that far ahead. Just want to reach the quarter-finals first. Ireland are a tough opponent. We are taking it one game at a time," he said.
Imran Tahir, the Pakistan-born leg spinner, said he was recovering well from his thumb injury. "Inshallah, I will be fit soon. It was a great win last night. I am a huge fan of Sachin Tendulkar and it's my dream to bowl to him. But sadly, I was injured. It was great to see him hit a ton," said Tahir.
