South Africa’s demoralizing run of injuries and defeats has left a simple equation for Faf du Plessis and his team at the Cricket World Cup 2019.
Now after losing 3 straight matches they will have to win all 6 remaining matches to stay in the the fight for top 4 if they lose one more their dreams to reach semi-final will be over.
The six-wicket loss to India on Wednesday was the third in the first seven days of the tournament for the South Africans, their worst ever run at a Cricket World Cup, South Africa will have four days before its next match against the West Indies, again in Southampton.
“The last two World Cups, we started off pretty good but unfortunately we didn’t win” he said. “Maybe this is another way around. Maybe this could be the one where we start badly, get a win, get some momentum and turn things around.”
Some recovery time could be all they need to turn things around, said Amla, who was dismissed for six against India after missing the match against Bangladesh as a precaution following a head-knock in the opening loss to England.
The South Africans have already lost veteran pace spearhead Dale Steyn for the tournament, he didn’t bowl a ball and have had to do without Lungi Ngidi since he strained his hamstring early in the loss the Bangladesh.
Other fast bowlers were injured before the tournament and didn’t travel to England. But an under-resourced attack, led by paceman Kagiso Rabada, did an impressive job in trying to defend a small target of 228 and India only had 15 balls to spare in securing the win.
Every game will be treated like a knockout now for the South Africans. And, who knows, it may even come down to the last group game against Australia in Manchester on July 6 to determine spots in the semifinals.
South Africa has never reached a Cricket World Cup final but came tantalizingly close in a tied semifinal the last time the tournament was held in England, with Australia advancing on a tiebreaker countback from that game and going on to win the title in 1999.