South Africa didn’t play best cricket and don’t deserve to be in semis: Faf

LONDON: Faf du Plessis admitted he was one of the villains of South Africa’s abject surrender to India in a must-win ICC Champions Trophy match at The Oval on Sunday but went on to say that the Proteas did not deserve to be in the tournament’s semifinal.

Faf du Plessis looked crestfallen after South Africa lost by eight wickets against India, but it was not the margin of defeat that hurt the veteran South African star, who, unlike skipper AB de Villiers, did not hide his emotions after such a crushing defeat.

“We do not deserve to be in the Champions Trophy semis. We didn’t play our best cricket here,” Du Plessis said.

Du Plessis admitted he was the culprit behind De Villiers’ run out that swung the match in India’s favour at a stage when the South Africans were coming to turnaround after the exit of Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock.

“It was entirely my fault ... a big error in judgement,” said Du Plessis, adding that the two runs outs – David Miller was run out too – transferred the pressure back on the Proteas.

South Africa lost their last eight wickets adding just 51 runs and Du Plessis credited the Indian bowlers for choking them out on a wicket that where a 280 would have been a par score.

“AB’s departure hurt us. The Indian bowlers are scared to bowl at him but then it was my fault that I got him run out,” said Du Plessis, whose 50-ball 36 did precious little after the middle order caved in easily.

Du Plessis predicted a final between India and England.

“That will be my final. England are the form team but India know how to win the big games,” he said.

India play Bangladesh in the tournament’s second final on June 15 in Birmingham. England await the winners of Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the first semis at Cardiff on June 14.