Conrad hopeful despite Proteas’ inexperience

SOUTH Africa’s young T20 side learnt some harsh lessons in Lahore on Saturday night as Pakistan completed a 2-1 comeback series win with a four-wicket victory in the decider — exposing the Proteas’ inexperience but also, coach Shukri Conrad believes, helping to paint a clearer picture for next year’s T20 World Cup.

- ROWAN CALLAGHAN

A largely experimental South African side had won the series opener in Rawalpindi convincingly before coming undone in back-to-back matches in Lahore on Friday and Saturday night.

“It was rather disappointing, especially going 1-0 up and then coming to Lahore and not getting out the blocks,’ Conrad admitted during Saturday’s post-match media conference.

“We found ourselves in trouble every Power-Play with the bat, and when you're posting 110 or 140, you’re not going to win many games. The inexperience really showed, to a large degree, but that is no excuse.”