Conrad Confident Despite Final Defeat: “We’ve Got the Makings of a Great Side”

Despite a heartbreaking last-ball defeat to New Zealand in the T20I tri-series final in Harare, South Africa’s all-format coach Shukri Conrad remains optimistic about the future of his young squad. Calling the clash “a game of millimetres,” Conrad praised the resilience and promise shown by several emerging players and believes the team is on track for long-term success.

South Africa fell short in a high-stakes final despite a spirited chase that nearly saw them pull off their highest successful run pursuit against New Zealand. The series featured a largely experimental squad, with only Reeza Hendricks and Gerald Coetzee having featured in South Africa’s last T20 World Cup campaign.

“There’s so many good things that we can take forward from here,” Conrad said in the post-match press conference. “It’s no excuse for losing, and we’re still bitterly disappointed. But there were some really good things. With such a young and inexperienced side, to put up the performance they did today is something I’m proud of.”

Young Guns Impress: Pretorius and Brevis Shine

Among the biggest positives were the performances of youngsters Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Dewald Brevis, both of whom Conrad has backed for South Africa’s upcoming white-ball tour to Australia.

Pretorius, who struggled early in the series, was promoted back to the top of the order for the final and responded with a crucial 35-ball 51 — his maiden T20I fifty. “Lhuan-dre is one of the bright prospects for South Africa,” said Conrad. “He had a lean period, but to come back like this in the final shows the kind of temperament and class he has.”

Brevis, meanwhile, nearly took South Africa over the line in the final. After a breakthrough domestic season with MI Cape Town, the hard-hitting 22-year-old has now earned spots in South Africa’s Test, ODI, and T20I squads. “Dewald is a special talent,” Conrad said. “He’s probably one of the sweetest strikers of a cricket ball in world cricket right now. He’ll be better for this experience. It’s not a matter of if he wins us games — it’s when.”

Bowling at the Death: A Key Improvement

Conrad also pointed to a marked improvement in South Africa’s death bowling — long a concern for the team. Despite conceding 45 runs in the last five overs of the final, South Africa allowed just three boundaries and took two wickets. Nandre Burger and Kwena Maphaka were particularly effective, combining for three overs and conceding only 29 runs.

“Bowling at the death has been a bugbear for us for a long time,” Conrad noted. “Today, we saw huge strides. The plans were clearer, the execution better. It’s something to build on.”

In contrast, South Africa had conceded 63 runs in the last five overs of their first match in the series, showing how much they had tightened up by the final.

Coetzee’s Role and Looking Ahead

Gerald Coetzee, who played in the earlier matches but missed the final, has not been included in the squad for the Australia tour. Conrad confirmed that the pacer has moved slightly down the pecking order but remains a central figure in South Africa’s long-term plans, including the next World Test Championship cycle and upcoming World Cups in 2026 (T20) and 2027 (ODI).

“The bulk of this group laid down a marker during this tournament. It’s great to grow strength and depth, and we’ve done that,” Conrad said. “Our experienced players needed a break, but we’ll be integrating the best combinations going forward.”

Eyes on the T20 World Cup

With the 2026 T20 World Cup less than a year away, Conrad’s confidence in his squad remains high. “If today is going to be a yardstick, then come the T20 World Cup, whoever wants to win is going to have to beat us,” he said. “I think we’ve got the makings of a really great side in every format.”

Though the tri-series ended in disappointment, the signs of growth, resilience, and potential suggest South African cricket is heading in a promising direction under Conrad’s leadership.