In the aftermath of leading the Proteas to a convincing six-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the T20 World Cup opener, fast bowler Anrich Nortje insisted he wasn’t satisfied with his match-winning display.
Nortje’s selection for the World Cup drew heavy criticism as he struggled for form and fitness in recent months.
The fast bowler didn’t look rusty as he delivered a Man-of-the-Match performance, claiming four wickets and conceding just seven runs at the Modular Stadium in New York.
“I don’t think I was on the money as I would have liked to be today, but obviously I got the results and the wickets. It’s just about the process and about trying to keep on going and trying to get better.
“I know it’s been a tough month or two, but I think the training and the prep have been really good. The thinking, especially in the last month, has been really good from myself and those around me,” Nortje told the media during the post-match press conference on Tuesday.
Nortje struggled for form in the recently ended Indian Premier League (IPL) as he took only seven wickets in six matches.
He put in another poor display in Jamaica as the Proteas lost to the West Indies. Nortje failed to get a wicket in six overs that he bowled and conceded a whopping 73 runs.
Nortje says he didn’t focus on the outside noise.
“The important thing is keeping the 20 people who work with you and encourage you very close to you and the other 10 million who abuse you, to keep them out of your circle,” said Nortje.
Sri Lanka were all out for 77 and struggled to deal with South Africa’s searing pace on the bouncing field.
Nortje says Marco Jansen’s first two overs indicated there was bounce on the wicket.
“I think it was quite clear from the start when Jansen bowled one or two fuller deliveries, and once he bowled one a little bit shorter, we knew that there’s maybe a bit more bounce in the wicket. So that’s something for us as a unit to exploit,” Nortje said.
The Proteas will play the Netherlands in their second group game on Saturday.
