Faf: Keeping focused under pressure is key

News

Cricket365
April 4, 2014

South Africa T20 captain Faf du Plessis has a simple recipe for success in the World T20 semi-final against India: key decision-making during pressure situations.

The Proteas face another knock-out situation in an ICC event, and will be keeping it simple in search of the elusive silverware. They are facing an India side that have come good again in recent weeks, with a number of dangerous spinners.

Du Plessis said if past disappointments: "We have felt it a couple of times before that it was our time and that didn't work out. To be honest with you, India is still regarded as favourites.

"We have almost been playing as underdogs; no one really gave us a chance before the tournament. We have been playing really well as a team. We have had different guys performing in each game, so we are not relying on a particular individual.

"It is a high pressure game, it will be important to play the key moments well and to make the right decisions at crucial times, if we do that we will come out on top."

This is the eighth head-to-head T20 International meeting between the two sides, with India winning five out of seven. Du Plessis says the men from the sub-continent remain the favourites because of their past success at major ICC tournaments.

He added: "In these T20 games, it is about how you play on the day. We will enter the game with a fresh mindset. We have had huge success against them before.

"We have been through some tough situations with our resilience and never-say-die attitude getting us through. We're expecting pressure. Every game you play for your country there is pressure. It is all about doing the basics well."

The management will assess the conditions during the semi-final between England and the Proteas Women to determine whether to play a second frontline spinner.

"If there is excessive spin we will definitely look at that option, but if it's a good wicket we will pick up where we left off in Chittagong," he said.