South Africa go into their second ICC Champions Trophy match against New Zealand at Supersport Park on Thursday knowing they have to win to stay in the tournament, after losing their opening game to Sri Lanka on Tuesday night.
"It was a setback," admitted Proteas coach Mickey Arthur on
Wednesday.
"We didn't play well and now we are in a do-or-die situation.
We have to win our next four matches if we are to win this
tournament."
Arthur said the team had prepared well for the tournament, but
practice matches were never the same as the real thing. South
Africa are the only team in the competition that have not played
international cricket since the World Twenty20 tournament in
England in June this year.
"We practiced our skills and we put various situations into
operation, but there is nothing like trying out those skills under
pressure. We came under pressure last night, and we fell short,"
said Arthur.
However, he was confident that South Africa could turn things
around.
"We have come from behind before, and we will do so again,"
Arthur said.
"What I found particularly disappointing last night was that we
were a bit tentative. We have addressed that - we had some hard
words last night, and we won't be tentative again."
South Africa have often been accused of being chokers, after
starting off major tournaments in a blaze of glory and then
crashing down at a crucial stage. Arthur suggested that South
Africa might have changed that formula, and would do things
differently this time.
"We've got our bad one out of the way," he said. "We now just
have to go out and win."
Captain Graeme Smith also said after Tuesday's defeat that he
believed South Africa would be able to turn things around.
"We have to get back to basics and improve on our skills," he
said.
"We weren't able to carry out our game plans, and we just have
to be better prepared mentally on Thursday.
"That's the big one, because if we lose that, we are out. But we
are capable of beating both New Zealand and England, and I am sure
we will."
New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori suggested that the pitch
might suit the Black Caps better than the Proteas, because it was
"deader" than he had expected.
"I think it's more like the pitches in Sri Lanka, and we've just
come from there," Vettori said.
"But we're under no illusions. We know we have to play pretty
well if we are to beat South Africa. It's going to be a tough
ask."
Thursday's match gets under way at 9.30am.
Remember to go to www.supersport.com on your Mobile phone and keep in touch with the latest scores wherever you are.
