Ahmedabad, Feb 11 (NationPress) South Africa's skipper Aiden Markram acknowledged the myriad of lessons to be drawn from his team's thrilling double super over victory over Afghanistan, labeling the match as one characterized by “narrow margins” and significant tension.

In a captivating Group D encounter at the Narendra Modi Stadium, South Africa set a target of 187/6 after a formidable opening partnership of 116 runs between Quinton de Kock (59) and Ryan Rickleton (61). In response, Afghanistan, led by Rahmanullah Gurbaz's explosive 84, equaled the score, resulting in a super over. The initial super over concluded in a tie at 17, but David Miller and Tristan Stubbs propelled the team to 23 in the second, while Keshav Maharaj held his composure, allowing Afghanistan to finish at 19/2, clinching a memorable win for the Proteas.

Markram expressed his thoughts post-match, stating, “It’s quite hard to sum that all up. It's a tough competition where teams impose immense pressure. When you put pressure on yourselves, life becomes really challenging. There are lessons to be learned; we weren't at our best in certain areas, which is exciting as it indicates room for improvement. Ultimately, we are thankful for the victory and the points.”

Discussing his bowling decisions during the super overs, he explained, “In Super Overs, you usually select your most confident player who has performed well throughout the match. That was Lungi. He didn't miss by much in the first over, but they still managed a commendable total. It highlights that small margins are part of the learning experience, and the same applies to Kesh. It's challenging being a spinner, but we backed him, and thankfully, we had runs to work with.”

At the midway point, Markram sensed a close contest, stating, “I told the boys it was a decent target, but we needed to fight hard. We had to excel in bowling and fielding. I wasn't entirely comfortable, as I felt we left some runs out there. However, considering our bowling attack and fielding unit, if we could secure 10-15 runs through solid fielding and effective bowling, we could make a game of it. Nonetheless, there are areas needing enhancement—small phases that accumulate significantly in this format.”

Despite recognizing the need for improvements, Markram emphasized the importance of winning tight matches, noting, “That’s a significant positive from this game; winning close contests is essential in a competition like this. There's belief and confidence from the boys who batted in the Super Over, as they performed well under pressure. We want to acknowledge that achievement.”

He also commended his openers for establishing a solid foundation, saying, “They played well. A strong start is crucial in this format, and that's exactly what they did. Both have been performing admirably, adhering to their strengths, which is encouraging. We can refine small phases throughout the middle, and in the first two games, we've delivered strong performances. Hopefully, that can translate into additional runs in the future.”

Although the Proteas secured the points, Markram's comments underscored that refinement, not just relief, will propel their campaign.