Faf: Batting in Nagpur isn’t brain surgery

South Africa T20 skipper Faf du Plessis laid the blame for his side's defeat to the West Indies firmly at the feet of the batsmen, saying they were at least 10 runs short and made silly mistakes.
The Proteas scored only 122 runs in Nagpur, and while they came close to defending it, taking the game to the final over, the skipper acknowledged that they played the wrong shots for the conditions.
As such, the Windies are through to the semi-finals, while the Proteas need other results to go their way if they want to advance to the knock-out round.
Du Plessis said: "The batting today was the difference between us winning and losing. We needed to get to 130-135 to have a par score. I thought we were 10 runs short, definitely.
"Obviously batting first, the thinking was that it wasn't going to be the same wicket as Mumbai, doesn't take a brain surgeon to look at that. But those decisions you make when you're batting, we didn't make them tonight.
"The run-out, caught at mid-off, and Rilee – our first three wickets for me were all soft wickets. AB's wicket was also a soft wicket.
"They didn't bowl us out tonight. We were put in situations where we needed to be smarter and we weren't. If you don't do those things you're not going to bat as well as you can.
"We went into this game thinking that West Indies is a power hitting team and we rely on being smart. Ten or 15 runs more, I think we could have won the game.
"They don't rely on touch, on getting ones and twos, whereas this ground is spot on for that. That's where we lost the game."
Latest
-
News
Dom Bess and Jack Leach spin Sri Lanka into serious trouble in Galle
England are closing in on a series win.
-
News
Sri Lanka v England Day 3: England skipper Joe Root’s brilliant form continues
Root’s 186 helped England battle back against Sri Lanka in Galle.
-
News
Jos Buttler: Everyone can learn something from watching Joe Root play spin
England’s captain scored another Test century in Galle.
-
News
5 biggest Test knocks of England captain Joe Root’s career
Root’s superb showing in Galle moved him up to fourth in the list of his country’s highest Test run scorers.
-
News
Joe Root puts on another batting masterclass in Sri Lanka before late dismissal
The England captain departed having scored 186 of England’s 339 for nine in Galle.
-
News
England rely on Joe Root again as he defies Sri Lanka with another century
He hit an unbeaten 137 as England reached tea at 252 for six to trail their hosts by 129 runs.
-
News
England stay alive in Sri Lanka as Joe Root claims another century
The Yorkshireman has reached three figures in consecutive matches for the first time in his career.
-
News
Sri Lanka v England Day 2: Familiar faces keep England in the hunt at Galle
James Anderson and Joe Root raised the bar in the second Test against Sri Lanka.
-
News
England paceman James Anderson still finding ways to get better
Anderson’s six for 40 was his best performance in Asian conditions.
-
News
Masterful Joe Root leads England fightback against Sri Lanka
The captain was unbeaten on 67 at stumps on day two of the second Test.