Zaahier Adams
It is not how you start, but rather how you finish. And that’s why the Proteas are mindful that they are only at the foot of the mountain as they climb towards the 2026 T20 World Cup in India.
A third consecutive T20 series may have been surrendered to the Windies on Sunday, but there are still plenty of lessons to be learnt from this evening’s final match at the Brian Lara Academy in Tarouba, Trinidad and Tobago.
“We have nine series building up to the 2026 T20 World Cup in India, and this is just the first one. We are in the process of growing and learning as much as we can leading up to the World Cup,” seam bowler Lizaad Williams exclusively told Independent Newspapers from Trinidad and Tobago.
“Each game is an opportunity to be better than you were in the previous game. The final match is just another opportunity for us to rectify our mistakes.”
The Proteas were certainly much better in the second match of the series, with regards to both the top-order batting and with the ball – largely due to Williams’ 3-36 – but they remain vulnerable when chasing.
While it may not be the same batting unit that failed to chase down 30 runs off 30 balls in the recent T20 World Cup final in Barbados, they suffered a similar collapse on Sunday by losing their last seven wickets for just 20 runs.
Williams admits that “our chasing history is not good” but these are all aspects that the Proteas will strive to improve.
Proteas white-ball coach Rob Walter will be hoping the middle-order batters put up their hands and stake a claim to be included in future squads in the same way Williams did in his comeback match.
After being the regular back-up seamer to the first-choice Proteas attack for the past two seasons, the 30-year-old was overlooked entirely for the T20 World Cup in the US and the Caribbean.
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The emergence of teen sensation Kwena Maphaka has only further increased the competition among the fast bowling unit and it virtually took an injury to his Titans teammate Lungi Ngidi to get another look-in.
“I felt down a little bit while I was at home, but it gave me a chance to work on my game and be ready when the opportunity came again,” said Williams, who played in the Indian Premier League for Delhi Capitals earlier this year.
“I understand that our fast bowling stocks are probably among the best in the world. It’s not easy to get a chance, so you have to be ready when the opportunity does come. But that doesn’t guarantee that you will perform.
“I think every game you play, you just try to contribute in every sense, whether it’s a run-out or a gun catch.
“Unfortunately we lost, so my contribution did not mean much on the day, but in a sense the last few months have been tough on me mentally, so it was a bit of a pat on the shoulder to say thank you for putting in all the hard work.
“I’ll say it again … the fast bowling stocks are unbelievable in South Africa and I just want to ensure that my name is still mentioned in the right circles.”
Walter is likely to hand Dolphins all-rounder Jason Smith his Proteas T20 debut this evening along with recalling Wiaan Mulder to the starting XI.
LIKELY PROTEAS T20I XI V WEST INDIES: Ryan Rickelton (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram (capt), Tristan Stubbs, Jason Smith, Wiaan Mulder, Patrick Kruger, Bjorn Fortuin, Lizaad Williams, Kwena Maphaka, Ottniel Baartman.