Rob Walter: Temba Bavuma got us into this tournament – people forget that

Rob Walter Temba BavumaTemba Bavuma (left) and Rob Walter (right).

Proteas limited-overs head coach Rob Walter praised captain Temba Bavuma after this week’s Cricket World Cup semi-final exit to Australia.

South Africa were bowled out for 212 in 49.4 overs. Australia replied with 215 for seven in 47.2 overs for a three-wicket win.

Bavuma scored 145 runs in eight innings – for an average of 18.12 – in the 2023 Cricket World Cup. He was dismissed for a duck in the final.

Prior to the tournament, Bavuma hit ODI centuries against England, Australia and West Indies earlier this year. He is Cricket South Africa’s reigning ODI Player of the Year.

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“Temba was the lead man that got us into this tournament in the first place. I think people forget that, so I just wanted to make sure that he was aware of how important he is in this team and how proud I am of his efforts and the way he led throughout the tournament,” said Walter.

“I just told him how proud I am of him. You know, he marshalled the troops this evening unbelievably well.”

South Africa’s 212 was built on the back of batsman David Miller’s century. He arrived at the creased with the score 24 for four. Australia’s reply moved to 60 without loss before slipping to 137 for five.

“To get the game close, I thought strategically the way Temba operated along with obviously the sort of the senior heads around him on the field, the different pressures created through the field positions, I thought it was an excellent effort to defend that score,” added Walter.

“But, beyond that, you know, sometimes it’s not easy to walk through a tournament when you aren’t delivering yourself but the batters around you are, but the important thing is that we operate as a unit.”

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