ICC U19 Men's CWC England and South Africa Captain Quotes
Player of the Match, Jacob Bethell:
“When we lost the toss, we thought that 240 was a good score so getting them to 210 was nice was, but I didn't expect to go and see the ball like that. But after the first couple of over, I was like I may as well carry on.
“When chasing you want to get off to a good start, you want to be nice and positive, but I didn't really think I was gonna go and do that, but I've been seeing the ball nicely and just carried on really,
“When you see it, well all your movements kind of just happen, really. But I think I wasn't really thinking about much other than watching the ball and that's what happens when you bat well.
“I picked up a wicket, I think we came in with really clear plans, which is good and then we did quite a lot of analysis on the batters obviously. Brevis played a nice innings again, but I think we backed the ball up in the field.”
South African captain George van Heerden:
“I think Jacob from the moment that he got to the wicket there absolutely smashed it and then all the boys that came in, after him from the English played brilliant cricket and really showed us how to do it today.
On whether 210 was enough: “We obviously knew that we were about at least 30 runs short on that wicket, very good flat wicket, but a quarterfinal you know, having a score on the board, we always backed ourselves to be able to hopefully defend it but once again credit the English they came out and played some brilliant cricket today.
On England’s batting: “I think we always knew that if they came out and played aggressive cricket and someone got a quick 68 it was goign to make it very difficult for us. So we actually kind of expected t with them bringing that kind of brand of cricket we thought that there'd be a few more opportunities for us, but unfortunately, it wasn't our day today.
On Brevis: “Absolutely brilliant. I mean, Dewald offers us so much with the bat the ball and in the field and just a player that you always want to have in your side and we just hope that he can continue for us.
“I just wish that a few more of us could have hung around with him a little bit because I think we forced his hand with having to play very aggressively from too early on in the innings. But once again, what a special player.”
Looking ahead to the next game: “I think a lot more easier to pick ourselves up from this being a World Cup and try and get up for the next match. But, definitely the energies are still high for the boys and we'll go back to the drawing board and do our homework and get up the next one.”
England captain Tom Prest:
“To backup our group stage performances with that quarter final that performance there. Unbelievable for us to do that.
“I keep losing the toss as well, so we're not doing what we want to do first. But if we can keep those performances coming, whether we bat first or bowl first and we're obviously doing something right.”
On Josh Boyden: “He's been really good for us from all four games, he’s got early wickets for us. To have a player who can genuinely swing the ball as well in that first 10 overs is a great asset for us.”
On England’s fielding: “We've done a lot of work with Carl Hopkinson, our fielding coach. We do a lot on taking chances with run outs as well and unfortunately, we missed another one today. But I'm sure as long as we keep practicing, we'll hopefully get a run out soon.”
On Rehan Ahmed: “He's a key player for us. Again, dynamic with the bat, ball and in the field. He always fields at points, so he's got a gun arm and he throws himself around in the field. And for him to get four wickets today, obviously not needed with the bat but surely would have liked to have come in and smacked a few at the end.
“We saw at the end of the innings as well when we needed to get a couple of wickets, he comes in and gets a couple of top edges and then the game kind of changes on its head. He’s one of those players that you really want in your team.”
On chasing 209: “To bowl them out after being put into field, it's a great effort. We thought they were about 50 or 60 light, so to restrict them to just over 200 was a great effort from us.”
On Jacob Bethell: “It's amazing to watch on the sideline when he's in that kind of form and that kind of mood. Hitting us first ball for four I think we all kind of realized what was going to come. But for him to do that in a big game, in a quarterfinal, was obviously amazing for him.”