Much pride to play for - Ingram
South African batsman Colin Ingram believes the Proteas will look to end off their three-match one day international (ODI) series against New Zealand on a positive note, after the visitors took an unassailable 2-0 series lead on Tuesday.
Five run-outs were the undoing of an inexperienced South African batting line-up, which saw the Proteas suffer a 27 run defeat to the Black Caps in the second ODI in Kimberley.
"South African people don't like to lose at the best of times," Ingram said in Johannesburg on Wednesday.
"A home series is massively disappointing to have gone down to New Zealand, so there is a lot of pride to play for.
"As an ODI unit, we want to get as many wins under the belt (as possible), and try to put some of our processes together."
Ingram (79) and Graeme Smith (66) shared a solid 129-run second-wicket stand, off 135 balls, and both looked set for centuries until Smith was run out.
Ingram insisted that the New Zealand outfit were not taken lightly ahead of the one-day series, and added the Proteas would continue to work towards building a formidable ODI team.
Friday's final match in Potchefstroom would be an ideal opportunity for the team to bounce back with a victory.
"I definitely don't think it was an underestimation. We've run into them plenty in the past, over many years, and they are always a very competitive unit," he said.
"The culture in the squad is a work in progress and has been really good, I don't have much bad to say about the culture of the squad.
"We've seen some outstanding performances (from the Proteas) over the years and that has rubbed off onto our test team as well.
"There have been some new, fresh ideas and that's been really positive. It's a settled unit and a good bunch of guys."
When asked about what went wrong between the wickets on Tuesday, Ingram praised the New Zealand fielding effort and warned that the hosts would need to be more alert of their surroundings in the middle of the pitch.
"Cricket is a hard enough game at the best of time and I wouldn't say we had a mental freeze," Ingram explained.
"We probably just have to be slightly more aware of what fielders are where. New Zealand have got some outstanding fielders."
