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We're happy with what we did, says Levi

Richard Levi made sure the small Zimbabwe target was overhauled in quick time with an unbeaten half-century. Photo: Getty Images

We're happy with what we did, says Levi

It wasn't an easy pitch to bat on at the start, confesses South Africa batsman

20 September 2012 - 11:59pm IST

Richard Levi came into the ICC World Twenty20 2012 in the full knowledge that runs had been hard to come by. His last significant score at the international level was the muscular 117 not out he made against New Zealand in February 2012. Since then, his scores read: 11, 19, 8, 0 and 1, but he kept faith in the method that resulted in him being elevated to the highest level earlier this year.

“As soon as you start having second thoughts about your game, you’re going to go backwards,” said Levi after hitting a 40-ball 53 to seal victory against Zimbabwe with 44 balls to spare. “You’ve got to look forward, and think back to the past and look at what you got to the position you’re in, So doubting is the wrong way to look at it.”

Zimbabwe’s bowlers did not ask too many questions of Levi, and the modest target of 94 allowed him to put his head down and spend some quality time out in the middle rather than have to go hammer and tongs at whatever came at him. Uncharacteristically, Levi struck just six fours, and did not attempt to clear the ropes even once during his stay at the crease. “It wasn’t a typical subcontinent wicket,” he explained later. “There was a bit of pace and bounce and quite a bit of seam movement up front with the new ball. But later on, it actually became very nice to bat on, with the pace in the wicket.”

Levi was more than aware that a sterner examination awaits when South Africa takes on Sri Lanka on Saturday (September 22), and did not want to get ahead of himself and call this the perfect start to the tournament. “You’re never going to get a perfect start I suppose,” he said. “You’ve got to come out and roll out your skills and that’s what we did today, so we’re happy with that.”

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