Morkel demands sharper Proteas response after Pakistan thrashing sets up Lahore T20 decider

Proteas bowling consultant Albie Morkel says South Africa have no excuses after being thoroughly outplayed by Pakistan in Friday night’s nine-wicket defeat in Lahore, and insists they will need to execute far better in Saturday’s T20 International series decider at the same venue.

After winning the opening match of the three-game series, the Proteas were skittled for just 110 at the Gaddafi Stadium, with Pakistan chasing down the target with ease to level the series 1-1.

Morkel admitted that the home side were “simply better on the night”.

“After our first good game we expected to wrap up the series today. It didn’t happen and you can’t sugar-coat it. I though the Pakistani team bowled really well today – a lot better than the last game. They attacked the wickets, they used their slower ball effectively and they put us under a lot of pressure in that PowerPlay,” he said at the post-match media conference.

South Africa’s top order collapsed early, losing four wickets inside six overs, leaving the middle order with too much to do. Morkel said that kind of start is almost impossible to recover from in T20 cricket.

“If you lose three or four wickets in the PowerPlay you often don’t recover from that. Their spinners also bowled well and 110 was never going to be enough,” he said. “You just need one little partnership and the game is gone. 

“If we lose the toss again, we’ve got to make sure we put enough runs on the board and then bowl a lot better. That’s the bottom line.”

The former Proteas allrounder also admitted that the bowling unit failed to create enough pressure defending a small total, missing their areas and allowing Pakistan’s batters to score freely.

“We missed our areas quite a bit tonight – full and wide – and that made it easier for their batters,” said Morkel. “In a low-scoring game you want the bowling side to push the batting team further, but we just couldn’t create that pressure to pick up early wickets.”

Conditions also appeared to play a role, with Morkel noting that dew made life easier for the Pakistan batters under lights.

“It’s difficult to gauge in a low-scoring match, but it definitely slid on a bit better at night,” he said. “There’s quite a bit of dew on the field, so I do think winning the toss gives a slight advantage.”

Morkel singled out Salman Mirza, who ripped through the Proteas top order with 3/14, as a key difference-maker.

“The ball he bowled to Reeza (Hendricks) was fantastic,” Morkel said. “He used his change of pace very cleverly as well. He had a good night out – credit to him. We’ll have a closer look at him ahead of the next game.”

With the series finely poised, South Africa will need a strong response in Saturday’s decider if they are to leave Lahore with the trophy.