T20 World Cup 2024 Runners up South Africa's recent performance in limited-overs cricket has left the team disappointed, with losses and drawn series against teams ranked below them on the international stage. After losing an ODI series to Afghanistan in the UAE, the Proteas drew the T20I series 1-1 against Ireland and even lost an ODI match to the Irish side.

Credits: twitter (x)

Opener Reeza Hendricks has openly expressed his disappointment, particularly about the T20I series against Ireland, where South Africa failed to secure a series win.

Speaking to SportsBoom.com, Hendricks stated: 

"The T20Is against Ireland … we allowed them to level the series, which again was disappointing according to our standards. With all due respect to Ireland, they are not one of the bigger teams, so to level a series against them was disappointing. We would've loved to do better."

Before facing Ireland, South Africa encountered Afghanistan in a three-match T20I series in Sharjah, where they suffered a shocking series defeat. Hendricks reflected on the experience, sharing that it was a valuable learning opportunity, although the results were not up to expectations.

"It's important not to think too far ahead of things when you're off-form. Yes, the Afghanistan series did not go according to plan or as well as I wanted to but going into the Ireland series, it's a new series so there were lessons I could take from the Afghanistan series," Hendricks added.

Afghanistan’s spinners played a pivotal role in South Africa’s struggles. Rashid Khan’s five-wicket haul and the mystery spin of Ghazanfar made life difficult for the Proteas in conditions that suited Afghanistan’s bowling attack.

"Look, it was tricky, it's guys we don't face often enough, and it was in their conditions where the ball was assisting them and was turning. So, I think they put us under pressure, and we couldn't step up in those conditions," Hendricks admitted.