Proteas captain Markram hails 'all-round improved performance' as South Africa top Group D

Following South Africa’s seven-wicket victory over New Zealand, skipper Aiden Markram expressed that he was pleased with how the team has improved this far in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup as they continue their search for the perfect team performance.

It was clear that South Africa would need a much-improved team performance to get a victory against the Black Caps. Despite their victories against Canada and Afghanistan earlier in the week, Markram was not pleased with how the team had gone.

The 31-year-old believes that his troops could put together a much better performance and that they would need such a performance against Rob Walters’ men.

Fortunately, through clear plans and decision-making, Markram’s wishes came to fruition, as South Africa put on an all-round improved performance to take maintain unbeaten streak in the tournament thus far.

“We were definitely a lot closer to the fullest of potential. I thought pretty much all areas were really good. And again, I think it just came from clarity and conviction in plans or that ball you're going to bowl or the approach you're going to take towards a certain bowler with the bat,” Markram told the reporters post-match.

“It’s nice to see the boys slowly but surely improving, getting better and better. And tonight was all around a really good performance.”

With both bat and ball, South Africa showed up on Saturday, as Marco Jansen (4/40) and Markram (86 not out) starred to take the team to three victories in as many matches and to the top of Group D standings.

Perhaps what was more impressive in South Africa’s victory was how Markram, Quinton de Kock, and Ryan Rickelton put their foot on the gas and did not hesitate or stop until the powerplay was finished.As a result, the Proteas put up a daunting 83/1 in the first powerplay, the tournament’s second largest after India’s 86/1 against Namibia in Delhi.

“As a batting unit, you want to take the power play on. That's what all teams are doing now and it would be silly not to try and do the same,” Markram said.

“If it comes off, fortunately it looks pretty good, but there'll be days where it doesn't and then you rely a bit more on your middle-order batters. But the wickets have been really good for us and because of that, I think you can get off to some good starts.”