‘It Is A Massive Squad Effort’: Aiden Markram Impressed With His Team’s Performance After Reaching Their First World Cup Final

AFG vs SA, 2024 T20 World Cup: South African skipper Aiden Markram is quite satisfied with his team’s massive effort as they qualified for their first-ever final. Markram admitted that it is not just him but the whole team is equally responsible for their unbeaten run in the mega-event till now. South Africa thrashed Afghanistan in the first semifinal of the ongoing tournament in Trinidad on Thursday.  
 
Markram has become the first Protea captain to have led the side to their first-ever World Cup final. They got rid of their past knockout ghosts. South Africa defeated Afghanistan by nine wickets in a one-sided affair on Thursday. While batting first, they were skittled out for just 56 runs and recorded the lowest target by any team in a T20 World Cup. The Protea bowlers rattled Afghanistan’s batting lineup as Marco Jansen and Tabraiz Shamsi took three wickets apiece. Markram and Reeza Hendricks helped the team win the match as they chased down the target quite comprehensively in 8.5 overs.  
 
It's not only the captain that gets you here 
 
Markram admitted that the team was quite lucky to lose the toss on a tricky pitch in Trinidad.  

Also Read: Rashid Khan reflects on Afghanistan's semifinal debacle against South Africa 
 
"Feels good. It's not only the captain that gets you here but also a massive squad effort. Plenty of guys behind the scenes as well. Fortunate to have lost the toss, we would have batted too. We were brilliant with the ball, got it in the right areas, and kept it simple. The bowlers have been incredible for us," 
Markram told reporters in the post-match press conference.  
 
SA reach maiden World Cup final  
 
Markram admitted that it wasn’t easy to bat on this pitch and that this victory means a lot to them.  
 
"It was challenging with the bat; no batter is going to lie and tell you it was easy out there. We had a bit of luck and then got a bit of a partnership. We have had a few close games, and a few people back home would have woken up early with more grey hair. Glad today was a bit more comforting. It is one more step for us, it is an opportunity we have never had, nothing to fear. This win means a lot, we have some world-class players in the side but like I said, it takes a whole squad to be able to deliver such a performance,” he further said.  
 
The Aiden Markram-led side have remained unbeaten till now and have qualified for their maiden final.