Just a day that we were out-skilled, really: Rob Walter

Coming into the Eden Gardens encounter, South Africa didn’t have to chase a lot of time. Five of their six wins were orchestrated while batting first. On the two occasions they chased - they lost to the Netherlands, and Pakistan ran them close. So it was only natural when they had to chase against a rampant Indian side, there would be nerves. 

But so dominant were the Indians that South Africa didn’t have time to breathe during the carnage that Indian bowlers inflicted. Coach Rob Walter admitted that they were completely outskiled by the home team while adding that 320 was too much on that deck.

“Good question and an understatement altogether. To be fair, just a day that we were out-skilled, really. I didn't feel that was a 320 pitch. They obviously got off to a flyer and we pulled it back nicely. I thought Keshav bowled beautifully today, along with KG. And yeah, 320 was too much on that deck and then, from a bowling point of view, they put us under pressure right from the word go. Couldn't claw our way back in, and as I said, just got out-skilled on the day,” Walter said in the post-match press conference.

“I mean, they're a hell of a team. And very well-balanced and highly skilled. There's no way around it. They've won every game and they've won it well.

“This game is a funny game and you get taught new lessons every single day and get surprised every single day. So, it wouldn't surprise me if the tables turned the next time around. The beauty of it is that there may well be another shot for us and we've been given an opportunity to learn from that.”

With 17 wickets in eight games, Marco Jansen is perhaps one of the most impressive pacers in the World Cup, but in Kolkata, he didn’t turn up. He conceded 94 runs in 9.4 overs while accounting for only one wicket. However, Walter threw his weight behind the pacer, stating that he has the ability to turn this around.

“You have to believe that on a day if you execute your skills, you've also got a chance and we just didn't right from the word go. We know already what Marco Jansen can do with a new ball, today was an off day, the guy's a young guy playing in a World Cup. He's played seven excellent games to point and didn't have a great start today and could just as easily bowl very well the next time we find ourselves against him if we're able to.

“To be honest, it's a gift, isn't it? Being able to run out in front of 75,000 in a game like today and so many learning opportunities out there. Fortunately for us you know today wasn't a must-win fixture. 

“It was just an opportunity to play against a really good team, and yeah, he struggled today, but as I said, he's got the skill set to bounce back and be effective the next time around and what he does have now is the value of having already run out, competed, felt what it's like to be in a cauldron with 70,000 people cheering against you. And you'll have that as experience that's invaluable. You can't get that anywhere else but here,” the 48-year-old added.

While Walter refrained from criticizing the pitch, he added that the moment India got to 320, it was really difficult on their part to chase the total down. “I think it would be very short-sighted and unfair of me to blame the pitch. One side gets 320, and we get bowled out for 80. That doesn't sound right, does it? So, to be fair, as I said, 320 was too much on that pitch. I think we'll all reflect on that and say that that was probably 70 or 80 too many. But on the other side, I think India were excellent. And I wouldn't blame the pitch on that part,” Walter added.