Watch VideoProteas peaking at right time: Shukri Conrad embraces favourites tag ahead of World Cup semi-final

Tristan Stubbs of the Proteas played an important cameo on Sunday, scoring a handy 21 runs of 24 balls against Zimbabwe in their five wicket victory in their last Super 8 tie. Photo: AFP South Africa coachShukri Conradbelieves theProteasare peaking at the right time after sealing a hard-fought ICC Men’sT20 World Cup Super Eight victory over Zimbabweto remain unbeaten, as attention shifts to their semi-final clash withNew Zealand at Eden Gardensin Kolkata on Wednesday. “Job done,” Conrad said, after the five-wicket win at Arun Jaitly Stadium in Delhi where they successfully chased down Zimbabwe’s total of 153/7 in the 18th over.

“We wanted to finish the day properly and get something out of it. I think we pretty much did.” While the win over Zimbabwe was not entirely straightforward – South Africa losing three wickets in the powerplay on a tricky surface – Conrad was encouraged by the composure his batting unit. “It wasn’t plain sailing,” he admitted.

“But I don’t think it was the easiest wicket to bat on. “We pride ourselves on assessing conditions and understanding what the surface allows us to do. But then again you just felt that once David (Miller) and Brievy (Dewald Brevis) got their partnership together it settled things, and Stubbo’s (Tristan Stubbs’) job is to finish games and he’s done that really well for us “There’s a calmness in the batting group that, whatever the situation, someone will step up.” That composure, Conrad believes, is rooted in experience and the Proteas appear comfortable with the weight of expectation.

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“We’re probably favourites because we’re the only unbeaten side left,” Conrad said. “The semi-final is pressure enough. Playing New Zealand is pressure enough.

There’s no added pressure beyond that. “I’m glad we’re favourites. As a South African team, you want to be able to handle that tag.

It’s easy being the underdog – expectations aren’t as high. Now we’ve assumed it, and we’ll embrace it.”

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